1. Managing Effective Seat Belt Programs
Phil Haseltine
Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
September 14, 2004

2. The Importance of Buckling Up
Increasing safety belt use is the single most effective short-term way to significantly reduce deaths and injuries from traffic crashes.

3. Essential Components of Effective Belt Use Programs
Uniform Policies
Consistently Applied
Meaningful Penalties

4. 2001 Seat Belt Summit
45 of the nation’s leading authorities on restraint use.
6 strategies to pursue and 1 to avoid.

5. Strategy 1
Eliminate secondary enforcement provisions in state laws.

6. Strategy 2
Laws should cover all vehicle occupants and provide for meaningful penalties.

7. Strategy 3
High visibility enforcement programs supported by paid advertising and earned media.

8. Strategy 4
Implement effective diversity strategies and professional enforcement practices to eliminate racial profiling while increasing belt use.

9. Strategy 5
Develop and install effective vehicle systems to induce belt use.

10. Strategy 6
Provide states with long term stable federal highway safety funding.

11. Strategies to Avoid
TV, radio or print public service campaigns, catchy slogans and promotional materials unless they are specifically integrated with enforcement activities.
30 years of experience shows that education, alone, doesn’t increase belt use.

12. Applicability
State laws
Military programs
Private employer programs

13. The Target Audience: What Do Part Time and Non-Users Think About Seat Belts?
ACTS 2000 nationwide telephone survey
Self-described part time or non-users
Licensed drivers age 16 or older

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

15. How often do you wear a seat belt?

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

17. Using Technology to Induce Higher Seat Belt Use
A 2003 TRB study concluded that new technologies can increase belt use without being overly intrusive.
Current law limits NHTSA requirement for reminders to eight continuous seconds.
Interlocks cannot be required.

18. Ford BeltMinder System
Uses intermittent chimes and lights for up to 5 minutes.
Phased in for drivers MY 2000 to 2002.
Phasing in RF passenger starting in MY 2003.
IIHS evaluation found 76% vs. 71% usage.

19. Other Reminder Systems
Speed-based intensity systems
NHTSA is urging automakers to develop voluntary approaches
Aftermarket interlocks have high cost-limited market

20. 8 seconds of chime and solid light (FMVSS 208)
GM Belt Reminder Protocol
Currently Implemented on 2005 Full Size Truck
Time in seconds
t=0 is ignition
113
368
360
380
435 8 20 75
105
125
180
Quiet
30sec
Quiet
(180 sec.)
FMVSS 208
GM’s Seat Belt Reminder Protocol
8 seconds of chime and solid light (FMVSS 208)
12 seconds of solid light
55 seconds of flashing light
Note:
2nd and 3rd iterations of reminder only enabled when vehicle speed >/= 5mph.
All warning functions stop when belts are buckled.

21. Favorability of a Reminder System That Gets Louder or Brighter

22. Summary
Sound policies that are uniformly enforced and have meaningful penalties are essential to achieving and maintaining high seat belt use.
Vehicle technologies can help achieve high usage rates.
The folks who pay attention to educational messages are already buckling up.

23. Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
Contact Information
Phil Haseltine
Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety