Safety Seat Belts Research Articles

Safety climate and seat belt use in the fire service

Objective Motor vehicle incidents or apparatus crashes are a leading cause of firefighter fatalities in the United States. Nonuse of seat belts has been linked to some of these fatalities. This research seeks to understand the relationship between safety climate and seat belt use among firefighters, as findings will provide insights into factors that may bolster seat belt use and protect firefighters. Methods Data were collected from 208 career firefighters working for a city fire department in the southeastern United States. Structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothesized model and to assess the relationships between organizational safety climate, work group safety climate and seat belt use. Results It was determined that positive perceptions of workgroup safety climate, as a higher order factor, comprised of supervisor support, horizontal cohesion, and vertical cohesion, was positively associated with seat belt use within a sample of firefighters. Organizational level safety climate did not have a significant relationship with seat belt use but did positively influence workgroup safety climate perceptions. Conclusions Safety climate has been associated with safety compliance and participation behaviors, but more research was needed to specifically examine the impact of safety climate on seat belt use in firefighters. The findings point to the importance of safety climate as a leading indicator and predictor of seat belt use. Bolstering safety climate through safety programs, commitment to safety, effective communication, supportive supervisors and cohesion should ultimately aid in bolstering seat belt use among firefighters, which is important to curtailing firefighter injuries and fatalities.

Comparative review of advanced seatbelt detection: Infrared sensors vs. image-based systems

The seatbelt, often heralded as the first line of defense in vehicular safety, plays an indispensable role in mitigating the risks associated with traffic incidents. Consequently, the push towards enhancing transportation safety has led to the emergence of sophisticated seatbelt detection systems. In this study, we undertake a comprehensive examination of four cutting-edge detection methodologies: RF (Radio Frequency), Infrared Marker Vision, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and the You Only Look Once (YOLO) approach. Each method is dissected to understand its efficacy in determining if a passenger has properly donned their seatbelt. Beyond just immediate detection, this paper also casts a vision towards the horizon of seatbelt detection advancements. We explore how such detection systems might seamlessly integrate with advanced vehicle safety infrastructures, and postulate on their pivotal role in the burgeoning domain of autonomous vehicles. As self-driving cars become an imminent reality, the importance of reliable seatbelt detection mechanisms will only magnify. Thus, through this paper, we not only shed light on current methodologies but also endeavor to chart the trajectory of future innovations in the realm of seatbelt safety detection.

Outcome of Seatbelt Education and Safety Program Among Teenagers.

Despite the effectiveness of seatbelts, concerns persist about compliance, especially among teenagers. Survey data from a local high school and registry data from a level 1 trauma center were used to observe seatbelt and motor vehicle accident trends. The survey data was analyzed to gauge student's sentiments on seatbelt education. The trauma center data was analyzed to identify characteristics and trends among teenage motor vehicle accidents. Social media was the most common strategy selected for seatbelt safety awareness. Random seatbelt checks performed over 4 months revealed seatbelt compliance rates of 90%, 93.55%, and 96.94% after education intervention. Trauma center data showed that lack of seatbelt usage resulted in greater morbidity. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions. This study provides insights into creating effective education campaigns that can be used to enhance safety belt compliance and potentially reduce injury.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ABOUT CAR SEATBELT AMONG DRIVING WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA 2019

Background: The purpose of this study is to conduct an assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of car seatbelt among driving women in Saudi Arabia since women now are allowed to obtain a driving license in Saudi Arabia. The lack of this kind of study which assesses diving women in Saudi we were motivated to conduct this study. We want to know the KAP of female drivers in Saudi Arabia and also the association between the sociodemographic and the KAP regarding car seatbelt. General objective: To assess Saudi women drivers knowledge, attitude and practice of using seatbelt while driving. Methods: A cross sectional study targeting all driving women who will respond self-administered online questionnaire, will be distributed through social media in Saudi Arabia from 12, Jan to 20, Jan ,2019. Conclusion: The perception of participants about using safety seat belt was 97%, the percentage of using seat belt during driving in city 65% while 81% using seat belt during driving in highway They represent 58% and the second most common restriction of movement represent 29.8most common barrier among driver women is forgetting using seat belt.

Kepatuhan Penggunaan Safety Belt Studi Kasus Dosen Universitas Islam Riau Pekanbaru

Safety Seat belts effectively prevent car users from being injured in an accident. However, it is felt that its use has not been fully complied with by car users, depending on the awareness of the car user. The study of compliance with the use of cars in wearing seat belts was conducted to determine the characteristics that affect compliance. Primary data were obtained by conducting interviews, recording compliance with the use of seat belts with direct calculations, and speed studies. The method used in this research is quantitative and qualitative methods using primary data resulting from the random distribution of questionnaires to lecturers at the Islamic University of Riau which is then analyzed with statistical data analysis software. The safety belt compliance of the Riau Islamic University lecturers is good. Most of them are drivers, aged around 35 - 55 years, high income, and have a valid driver's license. Almost everyone understands about setting seat belts, is aware of road safety, and agrees that seat belts should be worn while the car is moving. Drivers are more obedient than front seat passengers, both on urban roads and outside cities. For people who have a driver's license, safety is the reason for compliance. People who drive around the city are more obedient than people who live outside the city. There is a significant relationship between compliance with the use of seat belts with driving speed. On arterial roads, motorists who drive at high speeds tend to be more careful and obey the rules. While on collector roads, drivers who slow down are more obedient to the rules. Meanwhile, front seat passengers will be more obedient in using seat belts if the car is moving fast.

Seatbelt Safety Awareness Among Perlis Drivers: Demographic Differences


 
 
 Some drivers think that seatbelt is not important, and some even not wearing it when driving a car. The awareness of using a seatbelt is questionable around the world. Even there are enough enforcement and rules, people may tend to forget or just ignore it. Some factors can lead or prevent someone from using a seatbelt, somehow the essence is always within the individual itself. This research discovered the seatbelt awareness among drivers that lives in the rural area. This research was done in Perlis, and a cross-sectional design was adopted in this study. The result reveal based on the three different generations and the area of living. Item constructed specifically for this study, and Cronbach Alpha is 0.75. Convenience sampling was done and 100 questionnaires were returned. Overall results showed the level of awareness among people living in Perlis is high, and there is a significant difference between three locations (village, FELDA, and residential area) in awareness level. The result of this study will bring benefits for the enforcement to help them identify areas and specific generations that need more attention.
 
 

Understanding effect of traffic and driver related characteristics on seat belt usage in Mumbai city using random parameter logit approach and time series analysis

Safety seat belt usage has been a great interest to the transportation community. Understanding factors that influence driver’s decision of wearing a safety seat belt or not is essential in determining ways to enhance safety seat belt usage rate. A modeling approach is made to observe the trend of seat belt usage in Mumbai city and to understand the effect of vehicle type, ownership type, driver’s sociodemographic, and environmental characteristics on safety seat belt usage in Mumbai City. Data were collected by roadside observational surveys at various locations in Mumbai during the years 2015 through 2018. The time series model estimate confirms declining trend of drivers not wearing safety seat belt. When vehicles are disaggregated into different build types, buses are found to be associated with no use of safety seat belt as compared to other type of vehicles, and even male drivers follow the same trend in the city. By using random parameter logit model unobserved heterogeneity was captured among individuals. Findings can be used by policymakers to develop intervention strategies to increase seat belt usage in Mumbai and other cities having similar traffic characteristics and social environment features.

Investigation of chest biomechanical response by variation of restraint loads in frontal impact

The seatbelt restraint load is one of the primary sources of occupant chest injury. Thus, studying the different biomechanical responses of chest by varying the seatbelt loads will result in a significant improvement in seatbelt protection performance. Based on the high-biofidelity mechanical dummy model, a sled-dummy test was conducted to investigate the differences in chest injury outcomes caused by the variation of seatbelt load paths or load processes. The chest kinematics and kinetics are compared to determine the influence of load factors on these biomechanical outcomes. Results show that chest injury severity has a positive nonlinear correlation with impact speed. However, the injury risk is mainly determined by the seatbelt peak load in the chest deflection analysis. The results of this study can provide a reference to seatbelt safety design and optimization. The model and method can be used in other research works on the biomechanics of frontal impact.

Are we SAFE now? An evaluation of the Seatbelts Are for Everyone teen traffic safety program in Kansas

Objective: Teens represent the highest risk group for automobile accidents and are almost 3 times as likely to be killed in an accident. Seat belt use interventions are one way to address this issue, and a student-led program in Kansas called Seatbelts Are For Everyone (SAFE) has increased seat belt use for the past decade. An evaluation of SAFE enabled decisions to be made about program improvement and expansion.Methods: Mixed methods examined multiple aspects of the SAFE program, including summative and formative results. Researchers investigated the program through (1) a quasi-experimental observation to explore whether seat belt use at schools implementing SAFE for the first time was higher than at non-SAFE and (2) stakeholder interviews at SAFE schools. Each method examined whether SAFE programs accomplished goals set by program staff and how SAFE could better meet schools’ needs.Results: Summative results suggest that SAFE affects seat belt use. It is less influential on distracted driving but has a small but significant influence on that behavior. Stakeholders cited infrastructure and functional challenges affecting implementation, highlighting ways in which SAFE program staff could improve program compliance and outcomes. Formative recommendations included curriculum support, sharing among SAFE schools, and increasing student leadership opportunities.Conclusions: The evaluation of SAFE suggests that students are receptive to programs about seat belt and traffic safety. States may consider the recommendations for improvement of this program with other published evaluations and programs to determine how best to implement similar programs in their communities.

Development of an inexpensive rollover energy dissipation device to improve safety provided by ROPS

Tractor overturn is the most common cause fatal accidents in agriculture. Installing rollover protective structures (ROPS), in combination with the use of a safety seat belt, is the best way to avoid fatalities. A ROPS must be able to absorb the rollover energy without collapsing or suffering such a deformation that infringes the safety zone, where the tractor operator must remain. Therefore, any device able to absorb rollover energy, prevent ROPS collapse or infringement of the safety zone, increases the safety provided. An energy dissipation device was developed and tested. It contained a metal piece placed in each one of the four anchoring points to attach the ROPS to the tractor frame such that the piece began to deform and dissipate energy when the ROPS reached a deformation that could compromise the safety of the driver. At deformation the piece raised the closest anchoring point of the ROPS, forcing the ROPS to pivot around the opposite anchor point while it absorbed large amounts of energy, preventing the ROPS approaching the safety zone. The device designed and constructed specifically to be mounted on a Daedong D85 tractor model and has been tested to calculate the safety increase provided by its installation. The results demonstrated that the developed device, costing less than € 20, increased the safety margin by more than 50%.

Safety seat and seat belt use among child motor vehicle occupants, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

BackgroundUse of seat belts and car seats for children are among the most effective interventions to reduce injury severity when a crash occurs. The use should be enforced in order...

The influence of certain factors on the specific features of the injuries inflicted to the children involved in the motor vehicle traffic accidents

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the influence of the age of the child, its location in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the application of the safety seat belts on the frequency of the injuries inflicted to the children involved in the motor vehicle traffic accidents. The analysis of the relevant clinical materials has demonstrated the non-uniform influence of the factors being evaluated on the specific features of the injuries to the different parts of the children's body. The age of the child was found to have the most pronounced effect on the character of the injuries. Direct correlation was documented between the age and the frequency and severity of the injuries to the body and bone of the lower legs whereas the frequency and severity of the fractures of the femoral bones as well as of the craniocerebral traumas showed inverse correlation with the age. The bones of the upper arm and the forearm are most frequently fractured in the 3-6-year-old children. The location of the child in the passenger compartment at the moment of the accident also influences the character of the injury. The front seat passengers most frequently suffer the severe injuries to the head and the fractures of the lower extremities. The injuries to the body and the fractures of the upper extremities occur more frequently in the children occupying the back seats. Fixation of the children with the safety belts is an important factor having the influence on the frequency and severity of the injuries caused to the body and the lower extremities in the children in the passenger compartment of a car. The absence of fixation increases the occurrence of injuries to the internal organs of the chest and abdominal cavities and of the fractures of the thoracic and pelvic bones. Moreover, the frequency of fractures of the femoral, mid- and lower leg bones increases.

Self-Report and Observational Assessment and Investigation of Seat Belt Use Among Young Drivers and Passengers: The Case of Qatar

Young drivers have the lowest rate of seat belt use among all age groups. The objective of this study was to investigate and assess the seat belt use behavior of young drivers by means of various methods, including observational surveys, short interviews, and self-report questionnaire surveys. The results revealed that approximately two-thirds of young drivers wear seat belts. The self-reported rates of seat belt use were slightly higher than the seat belt usage rates obtained from the observational data. The results also showed that young passengers had a much lower rate of seat belt use compared to young drivers and elderly passengers. The logistic regression model for the observational data revealed that male drivers, SUV drivers, and subjects driving at night had a higher probability of driving without a seat belt. The results of the questionnaire surveys were consistent with the results of the observational surveys. The questionnaire surveys revealed that the reasons for wearing seat belts included safety, fear of getting a traffic citation, and obedience to traffic law. The main reasons for not using seat belts included discomfort and not believing that seat belts could save lives. The logistic regression model for the questionnaire data showed that drivers who believe that seat belts can save lives and drivers who attended a prior seat belt safety campaign had a higher probability of using seat belts while driving. The results will help policymakers to develop strategies that enforce and promote safer behaviors for this age group.

Are Booster Seats More Effective than Child Safety Seats or Seat Belts at Reducing Traffic Fatalities among Children?

In an effort to increase booster seat use among children, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is encouraging state legislators to promote stricter booster seat laws, yet there is a p...

Pattern of ocular trauma in Gusau, north west Nigeria

Background: Ocular trauma is an important public health hazard especially in the developing countries. The objective of the study was to determine the pattern of ocular injuries in patients who presented at the eye clinic of Federal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted between 1st January and 31st December, 2008. All consecutive, consenting patients with ocular trauma were interviewed with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire and underwent a detailed eye examination. Results: There were 121 patients in the study with 101 (83.4%) males and 20 (16.6%) females. The most common location of ocular trauma was more on the road (32.2%); road traffic accident (RTA), followed by home/domestic injury (23.1%) and at work in 15.8%. The most common anatomical site of injury was the cornea (40.6%) followed by the lids (17.5%) and the iris (14%). Conclusion: In this study, RTA was the most common cause of ocular trauma followed by domestic injuries. There is need for community education on preventive measures such as use of safety seat belts while driving and importance of supervising playing children at home.

Parental practice of child car safety in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Child safety restraints and seat belts are regarded as the most successful safety and cost-effective protective devices available to vehicle occupants, which have saved millions of lives. This cross-sectional descriptive study evaluated the practice and use of child car restraints (CCRs) among 458 purposively selected respondents resident in two local government areas in Enugu State, Nigeria. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to parents of children attending private schools who owned a car. Chi-square and multivariate analyses were used to assess the determinants of the use of car restraints in children among respondents. In all, 56% and 45% of adults and children, respectively, used car restraints regularly. The awareness of child safety laws and actual use of age-appropriate CCRs among respondents was negatively and weakly correlated (r=−0.121, P=0.310). Only respondent’s use of seat belt during driving (P=0.001) and having being cautioned for non-use of CCRs (P=0.005) maintained significance as determinants of the use of CCRs in cars on multivariate analysis. The most frequent reasons given for the non-use of CCRs included the child being uncomfortable, 64 (31%); restraints not being important, 53 (26%), and restraints being too expensive, 32 (15%). Similarly, for irregular users, exceptions for non-use included the child being asleep (29%), inadequate number of CCRs (22%), and the child being sick (18%). There is a need for a strategy change to enforce the use of CCRs in Nigeria.

Seat Belt Use Among Adult Workers - 21 States, 2013.

Roadway incidents involving motorized vehicles accounted for 24% of fatal occupational injuries in the United States during 2013 and were the leading cause of fatal injuries among workers.* In 2013, workers' compensation costs for serious, nonfatal injuries among work-related roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles were estimated at $2.96 billion.(†) Seat belt use is a proven method to reduce injuries to motor vehicle occupants (1). Use of lap/shoulder seat belts reduces the risk for fatal injuries to front seat occupants of cars by 45% and the risk to light truck occupants by 60%.(§) To characterize seat belt use among adult workers by occupational group, CDC analyzed data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and found that not always using a seat belt was significantly associated with occupational group after controlling for factors known to influence seat belt use. Occupational groups with the highest prevalences of not always using a seat belt included construction and extraction; farming, fishing, and forestry; and installation, maintenance, and repair. To increase seat belt use among persons currently employed, states can enact and enforce primary seat belt laws, employers can set and enforce safety policies requiring seat belt use by all vehicle occupants, and seat belt safety advocates can target interventions to workers in occupational groups with lower reported seat belt use.

Assessing the Impact of Twenty Underage Drinking Laws.

Over the last two decades, many states have adopted several of the 20 laws that aim to control youth access to and possession of alcohol and prevent underage drinking in the United States. However, many of these laws have not been evaluated since their adoption. The objective of this study was to determine which minimum legal drinking age 21 (MLDA-21) laws currently have an effect on underage drinking-and-driving fatal crashes. We updated the effective dates of the 20 MLDA-21 laws examined in this study and used scores of each law's strengths and weaknesses. Our structural equation model included the 20 MLDA-21 laws, impaired driving laws, seat belt safety laws, economic strength, driving exposure, beer consumption, and fatal crash ratios of drinking-to-nondrinking drivers under age 21. Nine MLDA-21 laws were associated with significant decreases in fatal crash ratios of underage drinking drivers: possession of alcohol (-7.7%), purchase of alcohol (-4.2%), use alcohol and lose your license (-7.9%), zero tolerance .02 blood alcohol concentration limit for underage drivers (-2.9%), age of bartender ≥21 (-4.1%), state responsible beverage service program (-3.8%), fake identification support provisions for retailers (-11.9%), dram shop liability (-2.5%), and social host civil liability (-1.7%). Two laws were associated with significant increases in the fatal crash ratios of underage drinking drivers: prohibition of furnishing alcohol to minors (+7.2%) and registration of beer kegs (+9.6%). The nine effective MLDA-21 laws are estimated to be currently saving approximately 1,135 lives annually, yet only five states have enacted all nine laws. If all states adopted these nine effective MLDA-21 laws, it is estimated that an additional 210 lives could be saved every year.

Knowledge regarding prevention of road traffic accidents among the adolescents in a community at Dharan Municipality

Descriptive study with the aim to assess knowledge regarding prevention of road traffic accidents was done by administrating self-structured questionnaire among 100 adolescents (between 10-19 years) at Dharan Municipality. Questionnaire includes the information regarding demographic and knowledge about meaning, causes and prevention of road traffic accidents. Among the respondents 55% were male and 45% were female. Driver responsibility and not obeying traffic signals for occurrences of RTA, use of safety seat belts for minimizing Road Traffic Accident, were the most responses provided 85%, 91% and 81% respectively. Overall, only 33.34% had good knowledge regarding prevention of road traffic accidents. The study concludes the need for knowledge about accident prevention.

Involving Fathers in Teaching Youth About Farm Tractor Seatbelt Safety—A Randomized Control Study

Farm youth continue to experience high rates of injury and deaths as a result of agricultural activities. Farm machinery, especially tractors, is the most common cause of casualties to youth. A Roll-Over Protection Structure (ROPS) along with a fastened seatbelt can prevent almost all injuries and fatalities from tractor overturns. Despite this knowledge, the use of seatbelts by farmers on ROPS tractors remains low. This study treats farm safety as a family issue and builds on the central role of parents as teachers and role models of farm safety for youth. This research study used a longitudinal, repeated-measures, randomized-control design in which youth 10-19years of age were randomly assigned to either of two intervention groups (parent-led group and staff-led group) or the control group. Fathers in the parent-led group were less likely to operate ROPS tractors without a seatbelt compared with other groups. They were more likely to have communicated with youth about the importance of wearing seatbelts on ROPS tractors. Consequently, youth in the parent-led group were less likely to operate a ROPS tractor without a seatbelt than the control group at post-test. This randomized control trial supports the effectiveness of a home-based, father-led farm safety intervention as a promising strategy for reducing youth as well as father-unsafe behaviors (related to tractor seatbelts) on the farm. This intervention appealed to fathers' strong motivation to practice tractor safety for the sake of their youth. Involving fathers helped change both father as well as youth unsafe tractor-seatbelt behaviors.