Publications

Nighttime seat belt use among front seat passengers: Does the driver’s belt use matter?

This study explores the relationship between nighttime seat belt use of right-front passengers and their drivers in east Tennessee during March 2015–May 2017. Overall, nighttime passenger seat belt use averaged 86%. However, it varied from 92% when the drivers were wearing a seat belt to 42% when drivers were not wearing a seat belt. These results suggest that drivers might heavily influence their passengers’ seat belt status.

• Shakya I, Shults RA, Stevens MR, Beck LF, Sleet DA. State-level seat belt use in the United States: Comparison of self-reported with observed use and use by fatally injured occupants. J Safety Res 2020;73:103-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2020.02.015
• Boakye KF, Shults RA, Everett JD. Nighttime seat belt use among front seat passengers: Does the driver’s belt use matter? J Safety Res 2019;70:13-17. DOI:10.1016/j.jsr.2019.04.004
• Beck L, Kresnow M, Bergen G. Belief about seat belt use and seat belt wearing behavior among front and rear seat passengers in the United States. J Safety Res 2019;68:81-88. DOI: 10.1060/j.jsr.2018.12.007
• Shults RA, Haegerich TM. Bhat G. Teens and seatbelt use: what makes them click? J Safety Res 2016;57:19–25; DOI:10.1016/j.jsr.2016.03.003
• Bhat G, Beck L, Bergen G, Kresnow M. Predictors of rear seat belt use among US adults, 2012 [PDF – 4 pages]. J Safety Res 2015;53:103-106. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2015.03.011
• Faul M, Bell J, Bergen G. Seat belts and airbags in motor vehicle crashes: How protective are these devices in preventing or reducing the severity of a TBI? J Head Trauma Rehab 2015;30: E1-E56.
• Strine TW, Beck L, Bolen J, Okoro C, Li C. Potential moderating role of seat belt law on the relationship between seat belt use and adverse health behavior. Am J Health Behav 2012;36:44-55. DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.36.1.5
• Ibrahimova I, Shults RA, Beck LF. Comparison of 2008 national and state-level self-reported and observed seatbelt use estimates. Inj Prev 2011;17:201-3. DOI: 10.1136/ip.2010.028597
• Strine TW, Beck LF, Bolen J, Okoro C, Dhingra S, Balluz L. Geographic and sociodemographic variation in self-reported seat belt use in the United States. Acc Anal Prev 2010;42:1066-1071. DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.12.014
• Dinh-Zarr, TB, Sleet, DA, Shults, RA, Zaza, S, Elder, RW, Nichols, JL, et al. (2001). Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to increase the use of safety belts. Am J Prev Med, 2001;21(Suppl 4):48−65. DOI: 10.1016/s0749-3797(01)00378-6

• Beck LF, Downs J, Stevens MR, Sauber-Schatz EK. Rural and Urban Differences in Passenger-Vehicle-Occupant Deaths and Seat Belt Use Among Adults — United States, 2014. MMWR Surveill Summ 2017;66(No. SS-17):1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6617a1.
• Sauber-Schatz EK, Ederer DJ, Dellinger AM, Baldwin GT. Vital Signs: Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention — United States and 19 Comparison Countries. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(26).
• Chen GX, Collins JW, Sieber WK, Pratt SG, et al. Vital Signs: Seat Belt Use Among Long-Haul Truck Drivers — United States, 2010. MMWR 2015;64:217-221.
• Bergen G, Peterson C, Ederer D, Florence C, et al. Vital Signs: Health Burden and Medical Costs of Nonfatal Injuries to Motor Vehicle Occupants — United States, 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(40):894-900.