Intervening To Increase Children's Use of Safety Belts

• NCJ Number: 116881
• Journal: Alcohol, Drugs and Driving Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1989) Pages: 37-59
• Author(s): E S Geller
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): R49CCR302635-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Two studies indicate that safety-belt use by both children and adults increased after Virginia passed a mandatory seat belt law, but the adding of extrinsic rewards for seat-belt use had mixed results.

Abstract

Safety-belt use by children and adults was observed at three community sites (a Montessori school, skating rink, and fast food restaurant) immediately before and after the Virginia seat-belt use law (BUL). At each location, safety-belt use by both children and adults increased significantly, but only remained at record high levels at the school were a safety-belt education program had been implemented before the BUL. This intervention program involved preschool children playing roles in a safety-belt skit. Follow-up research during a summer recreational program at three schools compared three different reward contingencies added to five, 30-minute participative educational sessions designed to motivate children to buckle up. At one school, 34 children were rewarded for being buckled up in their vehicles after the intervention activity; at another school, 26 children received the same rewards for participating in the educational program; and at the third school, 28 children received these prizes at the start of each program, without any stated response contingency. The children rewarded for program participation scored significantly higher on participation indices, but the rewards for safety-belt use did not increase the beneficial effects of the educational programs. Another study evaluated a safety-belt campaign that targeted children and parents at three community swimming pools. This lifeguard-delivered program involved the signing of 'buckle-up promise cards' that could be displayed in vehicles as a reminder of a personal commitment to use a seat belt. The direct rewards increased seat-belt use. 14 figures, 49 references. (Author abstract modified)