1. Teens and Seat belt use

2. Background
According to NHTSA, 70% - 80% teen-aged drivers use their seat belt while driving.
In 2002 (69%)
High crashes rate account for teens
5000 teen death annually

3. = What is the problem? Leading cause of death for young people
Low Seat belt use + high rate crashes =
Leading cause of death for young people

4. What is the risk? Human lives 2. Economic costs : Medical cost
medical cost for unbelted crash victims are 50% higher than for those who are belted.

5. Medical cost The use of seat belt determine : Mortality rate
Hospital charges
Length of stay
Intensive care unit stay
Ventilation requirement

6. The effectiveness of belts in reducing fatality
Seat belts use reduces the risk of being killed or having serious injury by 50%.
Prevent ejection from the vehicle
Spread forces from the crash over the wide area of the body.
Allow the body to slow down gradually
Protect the head and spinal cords from serious injury

7. Why teens fail to buckle up?
The most frequently theories:
Inexperience: how to recognize and react for emergency conditions.
Immaturity: they are more likely to engage in riskier behavior.
Immortality: Teens do not think they may get into crash, so they think that protection is not necessary.

8. 4. emotionality: teens emotions effect their thinking and subsequent behavior, such as “forgetting” to wear seat belt. 5. Sensation seeking: teens tend to seek an excitement. 6. Risk taking: Teens experience greater risk in all areas of life than adults. They tend to behave impulsively. 7. Power of friends 8. Power of parents 9. Distraction

9. Safety Belt Use and Number of Passengers in the Vehicle – States with Secondary Laws (Source: FARS)

10. Solutions Enforcement: - Primary and secondary enforcement
High visibility enforcement programs have been shown to increase seat belt use.

11. Safety Belt Use by 16- to 20-Year-Old Drivers in Fatal Crashes as a Function of State Safety Belt Laws (FARS)

12. 2. Increase sanctions 3. Incentive programs:
Increasing penalties and points on the driver’s license shows a significant increase in seat belt use among teens.
3. Incentive programs:
Rewarding teens for using seat belt via rewarding programs such as, school programs or insurance incentives have been shown to increase the use of seat belt.
4. Parental management:
programs for parents to monitor teens and make restrictions on their driving.

13. 5. Technology:
Reminders
Safety belt monitoring devices
Comfort and convenience
6. Other intervention: public health interventions that works to change the risky behavior of teens.

14. suggestion Technology Ignition interlock devices 2- Education
Programs for high schools.

15. Questions?