Managing Effective Seat Belt Programs

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Managing Effective Seat Belt Programs

• Phil Haseltine
• Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
• September 14, 2004

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The Importance of Buckling Up

• Increasing safety belt use is the single most
  effective short-term way to significantly reduce
  deaths and injuries from traffic crashes.

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Essential Components of Effective Belt Use
Programs

• Uniform Policies
• Consistently Applied
• Meaningful Penalties

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2001 Seat Belt Summit

• 45 of the nations leading authorities on
  restraint use.
• 6 strategies to pursue and 1 to avoid.

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Strategy 1

• Eliminate secondary enforcement provisions in
  state laws.

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Strategy 2

• Laws should cover all vehicle occupants and
  provide for meaningful penalties.

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Strategy 3

• High visibility enforcement programs supported by
  paid advertising and earned media.

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Strategy 4

• Implement effective diversity strategies and
  professional enforcement practices to eliminate
  racial profiling while increasing belt use.

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Strategy 5

• Develop and install effective vehicle systems to
  induce belt use.

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Strategy 6

• Provide states with long term stable federal
  highway safety funding.

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Strategies to Avoid

• TV, radio or print public service campaigns,
  catchy slogans and promotional materials unless
  they are specifically integrated with enforcement
  activities.
• 30 years of experience shows that education,
  alone, doesnt increase belt use.

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Applicability

• State laws
• Military programs
• Private employer programs

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The Target AudienceWhat Do Part Time and
Non-Users Think About Seat Belts?

• ACTS 2000 nationwide telephone survey
• Self-described part time or non-users
• Licensed drivers age 16 or older

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How effective do you believe seat belts are in
preventing injuries?
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How often do you wear a seat belt?
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What is the most effective way to encourage seat
belt use?
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Using Technology to Induce Higher Seat Belt Use

• A 2003 TRB study concluded that new technologies
  can increase belt use without being overly
  intrusive.
• Current law limits NHTSA requirement for
  reminders to eight continuous seconds.
• Interlocks cannot be required.

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Ford BeltMinder System

• Uses intermittent chimes and lights for up to 5
  minutes.
• Phased in for drivers MY 2000 to 2002.
• Phasing in RF passenger starting in MY 2003.
• IIHS evaluation found 76 vs. 71 usage.

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Other Reminder Systems

• Speed-based intensity systems
• NHTSA is urging automakers to develop voluntary
  approaches
• Aftermarket interlocks have high cost-limited
  market

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GM Belt Reminder Protocol
Currently Implemented on 2005 Full Size Truck
Time in seconds t0 is ignition
113
368
360
380
435
8
0
20
75
105
125
180
Quiet 30sec
Quiet (180 sec.)
FMVSS 208
GMs Seat Belt Reminder Protocol
8 seconds of chime and solid light (FMVSS 208)
12 seconds of solid light
55 seconds of flashing light
Note 2nd and 3rd iterations of reminder only
enabled when vehicle speed gt/ 5mph. All warning
functions stop when belts are buckled.
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Favorability of a Reminder System That Gets
Louder or Brighter
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Summary

• Sound policies that are uniformly enforced and
  have meaningful penalties are essential to
  achieving and maintaining high seat belt use.
• Vehicle technologies can help achieve high usage
  rates.
• The folks who pay attention to educational
  messages are already buckling up.

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Contact Information

• Phil Haseltine
• Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
• 703.243.7501
• phaseltine_at_actsinc.org