Safety Belt Interlock System: Usage Survey [1975]

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15249231975PDFResearch PaperWestefeld, Albert, 1913-Phillips, Benjamin M.Opinion Research Corporation (U.S.)United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Research and DevelopmentUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesManual safety beltsDriversIgnition seat belt interlocksWarning signalsDOT-HS-801-59451183NTIS-PB242464DOT-HS-4-00805Final reportThis research is intended to measure the effectiveness of the interlocksystem in increasing safety belt usage. Three separate studies wereconducted:(a) among rental car customers at U.S. airports (to obtaina large body of data early in the 1974 model year); (b) among rental carcustomers at Toronto International Airport, where different types ofuse-inducing systems could be studied; and (c) among owners of privatecars in the general population of vehicles. Study (a) was conducted at * Miami, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Customers returning 1974 model rentalcars at these airports were observed for their safety belt usage, and asubsample of nonusers immediately interviewed to determine the circum-stances and attitudes surrounding their nonusage. Similar methods ofobserving and interviewing were followed at Toronto. Study (c) wasconducted in a sample of 19 U.S. cities by having observers note theusage patterns and sex of the driver and right outboard passenger,certain major characteristics of the car, and the license number. Thelicense number permitted verification of the observed model year, providedother descriptive information about the car, and afforded a means ofconducting a follow-up telephone interview with the presumed driver.This interview covered practices and attitudes with regard to safetybelt usage and the interlock system. /Abstract from report summary page/129