The effects of persistent audible seat belt reminders and a speed-limiting interlock on the seat belt use of drivers who do not always use a seat belt
Request a copy
Please note that the contents of research papers published in journals, books and conference proceedings may not be redistributed or republished without consent of the publishers.
The effects of persistent audible seat belt reminders and a speed-limiting interlock on the seat belt use of drivers who do not always use a seat belt
Kidd, David G. / Singer, Jeremiah
Journal of Safety Research
November 2019
Introduction: Vehicle technologies that increase seat belt use can potentially save thousands of lives each year. Kidd et al. (2018) found that a gearshift interlock was more effective for increasing seat belt use than an intermittent 7-second audible reminder, but interlocks may not be more effective than persistent audible reminders lasting at least 90 seconds. Method: Forty-nine part-time belt users who had a recent seat belt citation and reported not always using a seat belt drove two vehicles for 1 week each. Thirty-three drove a Chevrolet with three intermittent 7-second audible reminders followed by either a BMW with a 90-second audible reminder (n=17) or a Subaru with an indefinite audible reminder (n=16). The other 16 participants experienced the BMW audible reminder followed by a speed-limiting interlock that limited speed to 15 mph during unbelted driving. These data were combined with data from 32 part-time belt users in Kidd et al. (2018) who experienced the intermittent reminder for 2 weeks or the intermittent reminder for 1 week and a gearshift interlock the next. Results: Relative to the intermittent reminder, seat belt use was significantly increased 30% by the BMW reminder, 34% by the Subaru reminder, and 33% by the speed-limiting interlock. Belt use was increased 16% by the gearshift interlock, but this change was not significant. More participants circumvented the speed-limiting interlock to drive unbelted than the audible reminders. Response to a poststudy survey indicated that interlocks were less acceptable than reminders. Conclusions: Audible reminders lasting at least 90 seconds and a speed-limiting interlock were significantly more effective for increasing seat belt use than an intermittent audible reminder, but reminders were found more acceptable. Practical applications: Strengthening existing U.S. safety standards to require audible reminders lasting at least 90 seconds for front-row occupants could save up to 1,489 lives annually.
Safety belts: Safety belt technology, ID: 2185