During October 1991, a combined survey was done into the presence and use of safety belts and child seats on the back seats of cars. Contrary to previous years, it also looked at the belt use by both drivers and front seat passengers. The use of seat belts by car drivers in 1991 was practically the same as in 1990, and amounted to 77%. The belt use by drivers on roads within built-up areas increased to 62%. In view of this, the strong decrease of belt use started in 1990 was stopped in 1991. On roads outside built-up areas, the belt use by front seat passengers decreased to 78%. An increase of the belt use by front seat passengers to 68% was found on locations within built-up areas. Differences in seat belt use by car drivers appeared to correlate significantly with the type of the road. Per province, great differences were found in belt use on roads within and outside built-up areas, both for drivers and front seat passengers. In this context, the northern provinces showed the highest percentages of wearing rates. Contrary to locations outside built-up areas, the presence of an occupant on the front seat of the car appeared to influence belt use by the driver. Sex still appeared to influence belt use on the front seats of cars: seat belts were more often worn by women than by men. These percentages were respectively 83% and 75% on roads outside built-up areas, and 69% and 59% respectively on locations within built-up areas. On the survey locations, it was found that in about 47% of the cars a safety system was present on the side back seats, and in the middle of the seat the presence was 34%. Compared with 1990, this means an increase of the belt use on side back seats of 8% for locations outside built-up areas, and for inside built-up areas an increase of approximately 12%. These percentages were for the middle of the seat 6% and 14% respectively. In comparison with 1990, the use of seat belts on the back seats of cars in 1991 decreased strongly. This use appeared to relate strongly with the age of the car occupants. Compared with 1990, a substantial increase of the use of a safety system on the rear seats of cars in 1991 was found among the children in the age groups up to 5 years old and 5-12 years old. The belt use by the driver appeared to have an influence on the use of a safety system by occupants on the back seats of cars. If a safety system is present on the rear seats, the difference in wearing rates between roads outside and within built-up areas amounted to 5%: 24% versus 29%. It is shown that the belts on the back seats were not often used by adults. In view of the wearing rates among adults, additional policy to be directed at publicity is needed to enhance the use of belts on rear seats.
Samenvatting