Seat belt use by adult rear seat passengers in private passenger, taxi, and rideshare vehicles

Abstract

Using seat belts reduces traffic injuries and fatalities. There are no observational studies comparing use of seat belts by front and rear seat adult passengers in the United States (U.S.), and no comparisons of rear seat belt use by adult passengers in private, taxi, and rideshare vehicles. This observational study of drivers and adult passengers in two cities, one with a primary and the other with a secondary seat belt enforcement law, found the laws affected seat belt use by drivers but not by rear seat passengers, and that rear seat passengers wore seat belts more in private vehicles than in taxis. The latter result was not because of lack of seat belt availability in taxis. Results also showed that modeling of seat belt use by drivers had little effect on seat belt use by rear seat passengers. Results from rideshare vehicles was mixed. Implications for future research and countermeasures are discussed.

Warning signs to fasten seat belts result in higher rates of rear seat belt use in rideshare vehicles

“…The current study found a similar use rate for front seat passengers in rideshare vehicles (100%). The much lower rate of rear seat belt use (20%) in the current study was similar to rear seat belt use found in taxi cabs and rideshare vehicles in previous research (Knowles et al, 2008;Nemire, 2017;Walter et al, 2009). The presence of the warning sign reminding rear seat passengers to fasten their seat belt resulted in a three-fold increase in rear seat belt use (60%) compared to the absentsign condition (20%).…”

“…However, this influence of modeling behavior does not explain the difference in rear seat belt use as a function of sign condition, since drivers in this study wore their seat belts during both conditions. In fact, other research has shown little influence of driver modeling behavior on rear passenger seat belt use (Nemire, 2017). The increased rear seat belt use resulting from exposure to the warning sign in this study may have been a result of the combination of the warning sign with driver modeling behavior.…”

“…In London, research found that 86% of front seat passengers and 63% of rear seat passengers wore seat belts in cars (Knowles, Walter, & Buckle, 2008); a similar pattern of seat belt use was observed in the Thames Valley (Walter, Narine, & Buttress, 2009). In Las Vegas, research showed that 89% of front seat passengers and 48% of rear seat passengers wore seat belts (Nemire, 2017). In San Francisco, research showed that 100% of front seat passengers and 44% of rear seat passengers wore seat belts (Nemire, 2017).…”

“…In Las Vegas, research showed that 89% of front seat passengers and 48% of rear seat passengers wore seat belts (Nemire, 2017). In San Francisco, research showed that 100% of front seat passengers and 44% of rear seat passengers wore seat belts (Nemire, 2017). In 2016, the average seat belt use was 90.1% in the front seat and 80.6% in the back seat across the U.S. (Li & Pickrell, 2018).…”

“…Walter et al (2009) found a similar pattern for seat belt use in the Thames Valley. An observational study of seat belt use in Las Vegas and in San Francisco found that taxi rear seat passengers had a lower rate of use (28% in Las Vegas and 26% in San Francisco) than rear seat passengers in private passenger vehicles (48% in Las Vegas and 44% in San Francisco) (Nemire, 2017). Nemire (2017) also found that rear seat belt use in rideshare vehicles such as Uber and Lyft was 18% in Las Vegas and 52% in San Francisco.…”