Exploration of Impact Measures of Safety Belt Use Laws. Volume 1. Final Report

摘要

This project identified, evaluated, and recommended indicators of safety belt use law (SBUL) impact, as well as institutional sources that collect them. The project involved an extensive literature review, indicator assessment, and a survey of data sources. Four indicators out of 52 candidates were judged to have the highest potential for assessing SBUL impacts: (1) the 'KABC' injury scale used on police accident reports, (2) the Abbreviated Injury Scale used on medical records, and its derivative Injury Severity Score, (3) occupant ejections from vehicles, and (4) head and face injuries including cranium, brain, and concussive injuries but excluding ear and eye injuries. Valid and reliable SBUL impact indicators are not immediately available from many existing sources and it is unlikely that they can be generated quickly. It is recommended that coordination and integration of data-gathering efforts at the national level should be given first priority.