Three studies evaluating the use of modest economic incentives to increase safety belt usage are reviewed. Safety belt education and incentive programs were conducted at Chapel Hill High School, at the North Carolina headquarters for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and in the combied Chapel Hill/Carrboro community. At each site shoulder belt usage date were collected before, during, and after the incentive campaign for evaluating program effectiveness. Results showed substantial increases in belt use at each site. At the high school overall restraint use increased from a baseline average of 24% to a 64% average over the month-long incentive phase, dropping back to 43% during follow-up. For Blue Cross and Blue Shield, usage increased from an 11% baseline rate to 63% during incentives, then back to 28% during follow-up. In the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community campaign, overall restraint use increased from a baseline average of 24% to a peak value of 41% near the end of the 6-month incentive phase, declining only to an average of 37% through 8 months of follow-up data collection.
Samenvatting