The VTI has performed a continuous series of observations of car seat belt usage in central Sweden since 1983. The observations are carried out annually during a total of 12 days in August-September, primarily at roundabouts with large proportions of long-distance traffic, but in urban environments. The observations from autumn 1996 show that car seat belt usage had decreased. The decline was most evident in the case of rear seat adult passengers and to some extent children in the rear seat. The degree of usage varies greatly. Drivers and front seat passengers use their belts on just under 80% of short trips in urban environments. On journeys to and from work, usage is just over 85%. At weekends, over 95% of all drivers use their belts. The highest usage is found among drivers making long-distance journeys on motorways at weekends. Seat belt usage among adults in the rear seat is 75-80% and among children 85-90%. In a smaller study, observations were made of the relationship between seat belt usage, sex and age. Young men showed the lowest usage, 78%. Women generally used their seat belts more than men and older people more than younger. In another study of seat belt usage among taxi drivers, 16% were found to be using a seat belt. The usage is highest on motorways, 40%, and lowest for short trips in urban environments, 0-10%. Seat belt usage in heavy vehicles is 1-2% for trucks with and without trailers, just below 40% in light trucks and slightly more than 50% in vehicles similar to passenger cars. A driver with no passengers has a seat belt usage of 87.7%. If an adult passenger in the front seat uses the seat belt, the driver's usage is 95.1%. If on the contrary, the passenger does not use the seat belt, the driver's seat belt usage is only 44.8%. These and other results show that there is a strong relationship between drivers' and passengers' seat belt usage. (A)
Samenvatting