Analysis of Seatbelt Use Decision Making Among Part-Time Users.

摘要

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2010a) estimates that about 34,000 people died in traffic crashes in the United States (US) in 2009. Young people, in particular, are overrepresented in these crashes. According to NHTSA (2010b), more than one-third of teen deaths were related to motor vehicle crashes. Based on both the number of licensed drivers and miles driven, teen drivers have higher fatal crash rates than all other age groups. In part, this elevated fatal crash rate results from the lack of seatbelt use among teen drivers and passengers. Of those teen drivers and passengers killed in 2006, fewer than 40 percent were using seatbelts at the time of the crash. Seatbelt use is the most effective way to reduce the severity of injury resulting from a motor vehicle crash. Indeed, the use of lap and shoulder belts has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50 percent. Despite these clear benefits of seatbelt use, teens, in particular teen males, use belts less often than any other age group. A recent literature review concluded that teens use belts only about 50-60 percent of the time.