212725 Evaluation of a national safety belt campaign

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Andrea Thomas, MS , Intermountain Injury Control Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Larry Cook, PhD, MStat , Intermountain Injury Control Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Lenora Olson, MA, PhD , Intermountain Injury Control Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the national seat belt enforcement campaign Click It or Ticket (CIOT) on safety belt use in 2009 in Utah. The CIOT primary audience is males aged 18-34 years. This is late-breaking because data collection was ongoing during the main abstract deadline.

Methods: Observational safety belt surveys of drivers and front seat occupants were conducted before and after the enforcement blitz (intervention). Data were collected from 16 urban sites during day and night time hours.

Results: Following the CIOT intervention, overall safety belt use increased by 8.4%. Daytime belt use improved by 8.3% and nighttime belt use increased by 8.7%. Prior to the CIOT intervention, daytime belt use was significantly higher than nighttime belt use (p=0.036); however, after the CIOT intervention, daytime and nighttime safety belt use were similar (p=0.158). Seat belt use among males and females improved by 10.2% and 6.0%, respectively. Safety belt use among females was higher than males for pre and post intervention. 

Implications: The CIOT intervention was associated with an increase in safety belt usage. Males and night time drivers who are targeted for the campaign showed the greatest improvement. Similar programs should be investigated and developed to increase safety belt use.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize increase in safety belt use following the 2009 Click It or Ticket program in Utah. 2. Understand differences in safety belt use among day and night time and male and female drivers and passengers.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a masters level statistician and I analyzed the data I will be presenting on. My current job relates to car crashes, and this research regarding safety belts falls within that realm.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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