Abstract
BackgroundRecent efforts to pass rear seat belt laws for adults have been hampered by large gaps in the scientific literature. This study examines driver, vehicle, crash, and passenger characteristics associated with mortality in rear-seated adult passengers.MethodsThe Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2010 to 2011 was used to examine motor vehicle occupant mortality in rear-seated adult passengers 18 years and older. Side crash vehicle safety ratings were assessed in a subset analysis of vehicles struck on the same side as the rear-seated passenger. Multilevel logistic regression models used SAS GLIMMIX.ResultsOf the 7,229 rear-seated adult passengers, 2,091 (28.9%) died. Multivariable predictors of increased mortality were advancing passenger age, younger driver age, excessive speed, ejection, being unbelted, rear impact, and same-side crash. Belt use was associated with a 67.0% reduction in total mortality. Despite this, belt wearing was low (48.1%) and differed by seating position, with less than one third of middle-seated passengers belted. Multivariable analysis showed mortality to be nearly three times higher in same-side crashes than other impact locations (odds ratio (OR) = 2.76, 2.22, 3.44). In a multivariable subpopulation analysis of same-side crashes, right-seated passengers had an increased mortality (52.7% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.01) compared to left-seated passengers (OR = 1.55, 1.02, 2.36). Vehicle side crash safety ratings, available for 27.7% (n = 172) of same-side crashes, were not predictive of mortality.ConclusionsExcept for same-side crashes, seat belts were associated with significantly lowered mortality. Despite this, seat belt wearing was low and represents one of several areas where further improvements in mortality might be realized.
Highlights
Recent efforts to pass rear seat belt laws for adults have been hampered by large gaps in the scientific literature
There are reports that front-seat-occupant crashrelated mortality has decreased with the use of newer vehicle models (Ryb et al 2009, 2011; Brown and Bilston 2014), few studies have addressed the role of vehicle side crash safety ratings for rear-seated adult passengers (Teoh and Lund 2011)
Passenger characteristics Passenger age The majority of adult rear-seated passengers involved in fatal crashes were between the ages of 18 and 29 (n = 4,140, 57.3%)
Summary
Recent efforts to pass rear seat belt laws for adults have been hampered by large gaps in the scientific literature. There are reports that front-seat-occupant crashrelated mortality has decreased with the use of newer vehicle models (Ryb et al 2009, 2011; Brown and Bilston 2014), few studies have addressed the role of vehicle side crash safety ratings for rear-seated adult passengers (Teoh and Lund 2011). Further elucidation of these issues may identify areas of intervention to improve injury and mortality in this population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
