This study compared alternative seat belt reminder systems and displays to determine which systems and components drivers find to be most effective, attention-getting, annoying, and desirable. Forty-eight individuals who were self-reported seat belt nonusers completed a threepart study. First, participants drove a vehicle along a designated route as they experienced five seat belt reminder systems. Second, while the vehicle was stationary, participants experienced 27 individual auditory and visual seat belt reminder display components. Third, participants described features that they would like to see in an “ideal” enhanced seat belt reminder system. All of the enhanced seat belt reminder systems were perceived to be more effective in encouraging seat belt use than the minimum required reminder, and the systems with more aggressive reminder displays and more frequent repetition patterns were perceived to be the most effective. Sounds were perceived to be more effective than visual displays. System components that drivers considered to be effective also tended to be considered annoying, though drivers’ opinions differed on whether effective/annoying systems are desirable or undesirable. Consideration of behavioral aspects of seat belt use, strategies suggested in the literature, and the present findings suggest approaches for more effective design of enhanced seat belt reminder systems. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting