Managing Effective Seat Managing Effective Seat Belt ProgramsBelt Programs

Phil HaseltinePhil HaseltineAutomotive Coalition for Traffic Automotive Coalition for Traffic

SafetySafetySeptember 14, 2004September 14, 2004

The Importance of Buckling The Importance of Buckling UpUpIncreasing safety belt use is Increasing safety belt use is

the single most effective the single most effective short-term way to short-term way to significantly reduce deaths significantly reduce deaths and injuries from traffic and injuries from traffic crashes.crashes.

Essential Components of Essential Components of Effective Belt Use ProgramsEffective Belt Use ProgramsUniform PoliciesUniform Policies

Consistently AppliedConsistently AppliedMeaningful PenaltiesMeaningful Penalties

2001 Seat Belt Summit 2001 Seat Belt Summit • 45 of the nation’s leading authorities 45 of the nation’s leading authorities

on restraint use.on restraint use.• 6 strategies to pursue and 1 to avoid.6 strategies to pursue and 1 to avoid.

Strategy 1Strategy 1Eliminate secondary enforcement Eliminate secondary enforcement

provisions in state laws.provisions in state laws.

Strategy 2Strategy 2Laws should cover all vehicle Laws should cover all vehicle

occupants and provide for occupants and provide for meaningful penalties.meaningful penalties.

Strategy 3Strategy 3High visibility enforcement programs High visibility enforcement programs

supported by paid advertising and supported by paid advertising and earned media.earned media.

Strategy 4Strategy 4Implement effective diversity Implement effective diversity

strategies and professional strategies and professional enforcement practices to eliminate enforcement practices to eliminate racial profiling while increasing belt racial profiling while increasing belt use.use.

Strategy 5Strategy 5Develop and install effective vehicle Develop and install effective vehicle

systems to induce belt use.systems to induce belt use.

Strategy 6Strategy 6Provide states with long term stable Provide states with long term stable

federal highway safety funding.federal highway safety funding.

Strategies to AvoidStrategies to Avoid• TV, radio or print public service TV, radio or print public service

campaigns, catchy slogans and campaigns, catchy slogans and promotional materials unless they promotional materials unless they are specifically integrated with are specifically integrated with enforcement activities.enforcement activities.

• 30 years of experience shows that 30 years of experience shows that education, alone, doesn’t increase education, alone, doesn’t increase belt use.belt use.

ApplicabilityApplicability

State lawsState lawsMilitary programsMilitary programsPrivate employer programs Private employer programs

The Target Audience:The Target Audience:What Do Part Time and Non-What Do Part Time and Non-

Users Think About Seat Users Think About Seat Belts?Belts?

ACTS 2000 nationwide telephone ACTS 2000 nationwide telephone surveysurveySelf-described part time or non-usersSelf-described part time or non-usersLicensed drivers age 16 or older Licensed drivers age 16 or older

How effective do you believe How effective do you believe seat belts are in preventing seat belts are in preventing injuries? injuries?

56%

37%

4%

3%

Very EffectiveSomewhat EffectiveNot Very EffectiveNo Opinion

How often do you wear a seat How often do you wear a seat belt?belt?

62%

20%

10%8%

Most of the TimeSometimesHardly EverNever

What is the most effective What is the most effective way to encourage seat belt way to encourage seat belt use?use?

13%

14%

14%

30%

12%

17%

EnforcementPrimary LawIncreased FinesPenalty PointsReduced AwardsNo Opinion

Using Technology to Induce Using Technology to Induce Higher Seat Belt UseHigher Seat Belt Use• A 2003 TRB study concluded that A 2003 TRB study concluded that

new technologies can increase belt new technologies can increase belt use without being overly intrusive.use without being overly intrusive.

• Current law limits NHTSA Current law limits NHTSA requirement for reminders to eight requirement for reminders to eight continuous seconds.continuous seconds.

• Interlocks cannot be required. Interlocks cannot be required.

Ford BeltMinder SystemFord BeltMinder System• Uses intermittent chimes and lights for Uses intermittent chimes and lights for

up to 5 minutes.up to 5 minutes.• Phased in for drivers MY 2000 to 2002.Phased in for drivers MY 2000 to 2002.• Phasing in RF passenger starting in MY Phasing in RF passenger starting in MY

2003.2003.• IIHS evaluation found 76% vs. 71% IIHS evaluation found 76% vs. 71%

usage.usage.

Other Reminder SystemsOther Reminder Systems• Speed-based intensity systemsSpeed-based intensity systems• NHTSA is urging automakers to NHTSA is urging automakers to

develop voluntary approachesdevelop voluntary approaches• Aftermarket interlocks have high Aftermarket interlocks have high

cost-limited marketcost-limited market

Quiet30sec

Quiet(180 sec.)

80 20 75 105

113

125 180 360 380 435

Time in secondst=0 is ignition

8 seconds of chime and solid light (FMVSS 208)

12 seconds of solid light

55 seconds of flashing light

GM’s Seat Belt Reminder Protocol

Note: 2nd and 3rd iterations of reminder only enabled when vehicle speed >/= 5mph.All warning functions stop when belts are buckled.

368

FMVSS 208

Currently Implemented on 2005 Full Size Truck

GM Belt Reminder Protocol

Favorability of a Reminder Favorability of a Reminder System That Gets Louder or System That Gets Louder or BrighterBrighter

05

101520253035404550

StronglyFavor

SomewhatFavor

SomewhatOppose

StronglyOppose

No Opinion

Non/Part-Time UsersFull-Time Users

SummarySummary• Sound policies that are uniformly Sound policies that are uniformly

enforced and have meaningful enforced and have meaningful penalties are essential to achieving penalties are essential to achieving and maintaining high seat belt use.and maintaining high seat belt use.

• Vehicle technologies can help achieve Vehicle technologies can help achieve high usage rates.high usage rates.

• The folks who pay attention to The folks who pay attention to educational messages are already educational messages are already buckling up.buckling up.

Contact InformationContact InformationPhil HaseltinePhil Haseltine

Automotive Coalition for Traffic SafetyAutomotive Coalition for Traffic Safety

703.243.7501703.243.7501

phaseltine@actsinc.orgphaseltine@actsinc.org