Evaluation of Teen Seat Belt Demonstration Projects in Colorado and Nevada. Technology Transfer Series

摘要

Teens have higher fatality and injury rates in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. The combination of immaturity, inexperience, and underdeveloped decision-making skills (including hazard recognition) contributes to the high crash rates among teen drivers. Observational surveys have indicated that teenagers seat belt use is among the lowest of any age group with males and passengers showing even lower belt use within the teen subpopulation. In 2009, 61% of the 16-to-20-year-old passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in crashes were unrestrained. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contracted with the Preusser Research Group to evaluate two seat belt demonstration programs targeting teen drivers and passengers in Colorado and Nevada.