A survey to determine the influence of traffic accident severity and selected variables on seat belt usage by the general public

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship among four levels of traffic accident severity; selected variables and the reported behavior toward seat belt usage under certain conditions. These conditions were: generalized habits of seat belt usage, seat belt usage during non-local driving, local driving and freeway driving, reported behavior toward requiring vehicle occupants to wear seat belts and attitudes toward mandatory seat belt usage laws. The results of this research were based on a single survey questionnaire mailed to individuals involved in traffic accidents occurring in Bryan, Texas during the year 1975. Four levels of traffic accident severity, were used as classification variables. These were: "incapacitating injury", "nonincapacitating injury", "possible injury", and "noninjury". Two sets of questions were used to assess a change in the reported behavior before the accident and after the accident, toward seat belt usage. Differences in response means were used to calculate variances and test the major hypotheses for significance. The sample size for this study was 405 subjects. An analysis of variance was performed uding the statistical analysis system (SAS) on Texas A&M University's Amdahl 470 computer. Where significance was noted, a Duncan's New Multiple-Range Test was used to determine where the significance existed..