Need and Possibilities for Seat Belt Use Promotion in Bashkortostan, Russia

Abstract

Bashkortostan is a republic in the Russian Federation with a population of 4.1 million. As with other health behaviors, the prevalence of seat belt use is low, which may account in part for the very high rate of motor-vehicle-related mortality in this republic. The authors discuss the need and potential for translating seat belt promotion programming from other Russian regions and other countries to Bashkortostan. The authors conclude that current policies developed in other countries could work well in the republic, if they are enforced. Meanwhile, initiatives such as the Sakhalin Road Safety Partnership offer great potential for translation in Bashkortostan as well as in other regions with similarly low seat belt use prevalence.

Health Risk Behaviors among College Youths

“…For example, in the United States, Germany, France, and England, usage rate among college students was above 80 percent (NSDUH, 2003;Steptoe et al, 2002). In contrast, usage rate among college students from the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan was just over 30 percent (Akhmadeeva, Andreeva, Sussman, Khusnutdinova, & Simons-Morton, 2008). Seatbelt use among college students has been steadily increasing with the passage of more seatbelt laws in European countries (Steptoe et al, 2002).…”

“Killer” Seat Belts, Feminine Drivers, and Tinted Windows: Pitfalls on the Way of Enforcement of Seat Belt Rules in Armenia

“…Research data collected from different countries suggest that enforcement in the form of punishment usually proves efficient for changing driving related safety behaviors in combination with public information campaigns and other measures tailored toward building internal justifications for concerned people (Pasto & Baker, 2001;Thyer & Geller, 1990;Kumpfer & Pett, 2001;Hagenzieker, Bijleveld, & Davidse, 1997;Petridou et al, 1999;Akhmadeeva et al, 2008). However, the policy of administrative enforcement in Armenia has not been preceded or accompanied by serious awareness building initiatives.…”