Skip to main content

Seat Belt Promotion in North Carolina

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

This program uses signs providing feedback to drivers in an effort to raise seat belt use. Feedback signs are placed along roads and at exits with high traffic volume. Feedback signs remind motorists about belt use and imply a stable and vigorous enforcement presence. The information on the signs changes weekly, listing the percentage of motorists using seat belts during the past week, along with the highest week of seat belt use to date. The program utilizes seat belt checkpoints held in communities on different days and times in order to create the perception of constant enforcement of seat belt law.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to increase seat belt use through interactive road signs and law enforcement.

Results / Accomplishments

The program was evaluated in two communities, Asheboro (population 18,000) and Greensboro (population 183,000), North Carolina. Observed daytime driver belt use in Asheboro significantly increased from an average of 75% pre-intervention to 89% after the signs were installed (p = 0.0001). At urban sites in Greensboro, driver belt use significantly increased from 80% to 86% (p = 0.0001). Right front passenger belt use increased significantly in Asheboro (from 68% to 86%, p = 0.0001), but the increase in Greensboro was not significant (p = 0.12), which may be related to a higher baseline rate.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
local police departments
Primary Contact
Allan Williams
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
1005 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA22201
(703) 247-1500
publications@iihs.org
http://www.iihs.org/
Topics
Community / Public Safety
Community / Transportation
Organization(s)
local police departments
Source
Accident Analysis and Prevention
Date of publication
Nov 1996
Date of implementation
May 1995
Location
North Carolina
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance