Traffic Tech #291: Safety Belt Attitudes Among Rural Pickup Truck Drivers |
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Occupants of pickup trucks consistently have lower safety belt usage rates than occupants of automobiles, vans, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). According to NHTSA's 2003 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), the observed safety belt use rate is 69 percent for occupants of pickup trucks compared to 83 percent for Vans and SUVs, and 81 percent for Passenger Cars. Occupants of pickup trucks are at a higher risk for serious injury or death given their lower safety belt usage and higher ejection rates.
Passenger Cars | Vans & SUVs | Pickup Trucks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1998 | 71% | 70% | 59% |
| Fall 2000 | 74% | 74% | 59% |
| June 2001 | 76% | 75% | 62% |
| June 2002 | 77% | 78% | 64% |
| June 2003 | 81% | 83% | 69% |
Source: NCSA, 2003
The Center for Applied Research conducted eight focus groups with younger and older male pickup truck drivers who live and work in the rural areas of four different states for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Three of the states (Georgia, Michigan, and Texas) have primary safety belt laws where an officer may write a citation whenever a motorist is observed not wearing a safety belt. One state (Montana) has a secondary belt law where law enforcement officers must first stop a driver for some other reason before issuing a citation for not wearing a safety belt. Two of the focus groups in Texas were comprised of Hispanic males.
The men who participated in these focus groups gave reasons why they do not wear their safety belts in their pickup trucks. They feel that the size of their vehicle protects them and that safety belts are not necessary for short trips or work-related trips. Some said they feared being trapped in the vehicle by the safety belt after a crash.
The participants pointed out inconsistencies between state safety belt laws and laws for other highway safety areas. One example given was that some states lack motorcycle helmet laws but require safety belt use. Some of the men in these focus groups gave this example as a justification for ignoring the safety belt law; others said the government should not mandate safety belt use.
The men indicated that they do wear their safety belts when family or friends are with them, or when they are traveling on interstates, in large cities, or in inclement weather (where they perceived the risk of a crash to be greater). Interestingly, many of the participants said they did wear safety belts when traveling in a passenger car, but not in their pick up trucks.
New campaign development should target where and why male pickup truck drivers in rural areas of the U.S. do not wear safety belts. Highway safety specialists should design new campaigns that emphasize crash fears and concerns that were repeatedly voiced by most of the participants.
The Hispanic men and all of the younger men were not concerned about dying in a crash; messages for these men should not show crashes that are so severe that survival in any event would be questionable. Instead, message themes about crash fears should emphasize paralysis and wheelchair use, loss of limb, and impact on family including feelings of sadness about leaving family behind.
Whether young or old, the men were not impressed with statistical facts as a motivator to increase safety belt use. Most of the men agreed that federal, state, and local governments could use numbers to prove whatever point they choose to make.
Educational efforts and campaigns should address these topics:
New messages and campaigns should use realism:
To order Focus Groups With Pickup Truck Drivers About Safety Belts, (35 pages), prepared by the Center for Applied Research, write to the office of Research and Technology, NHTSA, NTI-130, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, fax (202) 366-7096 or download from http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ Paula Bawer was the contract manager.
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W., NTI-130
Washington, DC 20590
| Traffic Tech is a publication to disseminate information about traffic safety programs, including evaluations, innovative programs, and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish. If you would like to receive a copy, contact Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D. or Patty Ellison-Potter, Ph.D., Editors, fax (202) 366-7096, e-mail: mailto:Patricia.Ellison-Potter,@nhtsa.dot.gov |