There is at present no mandate that adults riding in the rear seat of vehicles in Iowa must use a seat belt. As this issue is currently under consideration, the Iowa DOT contracted the UI PPC, the ISRC and the IPRC to conduct a public opinion survey regarding an “all passengers belted” amendment to the Iowa law. The statewide public opinion survey was conducted October 3—November 6, 2013. Survey results indicated that by and large, Iowa drivers are a law?abiding group. Over 90% of respondents reported that they always or mostly use a seat belt when driving or riding in as a passenger in the front seat, as required by Iowa’s current law. These rates were slightly lower in low population counties. When respondents were asked about seat belt use as rear seat passengers, however, rates of use dropped precipitously. Less than 40% reported always using a belt, while approximately 40% in low population counties and about 35% overall said they rarely or never use a belt in the rear seat. Respondents who always wore a belt in the front seat were 45?56% less likely to do so when riding in the back. Reasons given for not using a belt in the back included not thinking about it, low perceived risk of a crash, and because it was not required under the law. When asked if they would use a seat belt in the rear seat more often if the law were changed to require it, approximately 80% of respondents said that they would. Respondents were asked if they thought Iowa law should be changed to require all back seat passengers to use seat belts. More than 60% of respondents overall said that yes, the law should be changed. Response rates were higher for high and middle?population counties (about 63%) than for lower population counties (about 57%). Among the group that responded that the law should be changed, over 60% felt strongly that such a change should be enacted; surprisingly, respondents from the low population counties had the highest response rate for feeling strongly that the law should change (close to 70%). An additional 15?25% felt somewhat strongly about the proposed change. In general, female respondents were more likely than males to voice support for the enhanced law. This was true for all six age groups, with females ages 18?29 and 50?59 showing the most disparity in support compared to males. In general, support for amending the Iowa policy to require all rear seat passengers to use seat belts was strong, with approximately 65% of respondents supporting the change. A significant fraction of the respondents cited that they do not always use seat belts in the rear seat because the law does not require it; however, if it were the law, they would use seat belts more often. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting