Survey of Seat Belt - Road Safety Authority

Survey of Seat Belt
Wearing 2007
Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre
Road Safety Authority

Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Contents
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 4
Overview of Seat belt wearing survey, 2007 6
Front seat belt wearing rate results 7
Rear seat belt wearing rates results 9
Student seat belt wearing survey results 10
Appendix 1: Adult Seat Belt Survey 12
Appendix 2:Sample front seat belt survey sheet 13
Appendix 3: Seat belt wearing rates survey locations 14
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Executive Summary
A nationwide observational survey of seatbelt wearing on Irish roads was
conducted in the summer of 2007 by the Road Safety Authority. Data was
recorded from drivers, both male and female, for front and rear passengers
excluding children. Separate surveys for primary school and secondary school
children in the front or rear seat were also conducted.
Seat belt wearing
increased by 2% in 2007
The survey was designed to be broadly comparable with previous surveys since
1991 in order to produce trend analysis. A total of 15,616 adults occupying front
seat and 866 adults occupying rear seat were observed in 2007.
Females continue to have
better wearing rates than
males
During the last decade, drivers on Irish roads increasingly wore a seat belt. In
2007, 88% of drivers observed were wearing a seatbelt. This represents an
improvement of 2% over the summer 2006 survey. Previous surveys revealed
wearing rates of 86% in 2005, 85 % in 2003 survey, 71% in 2002 survey, 55% in
the 1999 and 52% in 1991.
A significant increase in
rear seat wearing, now at
84%
Compared to 2006 estimates, the overall front seat rate for females has
increased by one percentage point to 93 %, while the rate for males increased
by three percentage point to 85 % in 2007.
In rear seats, the wearing rate for adults has increased from 63 % in 2006 to 84
% in 2007. Women are more likely than men to wear seat belts in rear seats,
with wearing rates of 87% and 80 % respectively.
Significant improvement
by primary school pupils
The 2007 school seat belt survey showed a consistent increase in seat-belt
wearing rates for primary schools. The estimated seat belt wearing rate for
primary school goers in rear seats increased from 64 % in 2006 to 70 % in 2007.
In the case of front seat belts this rate increased from 67% to 80%
The only section that
showed a decrease in
wearing rates were
secondary school pupils
However the rate of seat belt wearing for secondary school pupils reduced from
2006 levels. The rate of wearing of front seat fell from 88% to 78% and from 77%
to 63% for those seated in the rear.
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
1. Introduction
By far the greatest contributor to injury reduction in the past decades is the
occupants in vehicles use of seat belts, (Shinar 2007) 1 . The World Health
Organisation reported that fatalities and injuries can be reduced by between
40-50 %, (WHO 2004) 2 .
Under the Government Road Safety Strategy 2007-
2012, a target of 95 % for front seat belt wearing
has been set for Ireland by 2012 3 . The achievement
of this target would set Ireland among the states
with the safest road safety records in the world
Given the proven effectiveness of seat belts, it is a
matter of national interest in every country to
measure seat belt use to track changes in use rates
as a function of various efforts to increase usage.
Under the Government Road Safety Strategy, 2007 –
2012 the Roads Safety Authority is tasked with
carrying out national surveys in relation to seat belt
wearing and traffic speeds. Survey results are used
to monitor trends, determine the effectiveness of
safety initiatives and to inform the on-going review
of public policy in relation to road safety.
Despite the fact that seatbelts are an effective way
of reducing the number of road deaths and severely
injured, not everybody wears one.
The National Roads Authority in 2002, 2003 and
2005, and the Road Safety Authority in 2006 carried
out nationwide surveys of free speeds (Urban and
Rural) and seat-belt wearing rates.
Methods
Over 100 sites were selected with an average of 100
cars and light goods vehicles being surveyed at each
location, giving a total sample size of over 10,000 -
which is sufficient to give a range of accuracy of
approximately plus or minus one percent on the
overall driver and front seat wearing rate figure.
For the purposes of the survey the network of public
roads was broken down into eleven separate road
classes (listed in Appendix 1). As with previous
surveys, members of An Garda Síochána, driving
instructors, taxi drivers and children were excluded
from the front and rear adult seat belt surveys.
Surveyors were instructed to continue the survey
until the target sample coverage was exceeded or
for a maximum of three hours if the quota was not
reached. Front and rear adult seat belt wearing rate
surveys were carried out in June, July and August
2007.
The survey results may be biased as the survey was
carried out during the daylight hours in the summer
months; seat belt wearing rates may differ
according to time of the day, day of the week and
month. This is especially true because there would
be a higher level of tourist activity on the roads
during the summer months and tourists may be
more or less likely than residents to wear seat belts.
Seat belt wearing rates at the time of day that the
surveys were carried out (mostly mid-morning or
mid-afternoon) may also not be fully representative
of average daily wearing rates.
In addition to the front and rear adult seat belt
surveys, the 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2003 studies
included a separate seat belt survey of students
attending primary and secondary schools.
The front and rear adult seat belt survey locations
are shown in Appendix 3.
1 Shinar. D. (2007) Traffic Safety and Human Behaviour, Elsevier
2 WHO (2004 World Report on Road Injury Prevention, Edited by M. Peden et al, World Health Organisation, Geneva
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/world_report/ summary_en_rev.pdf
3 RSA (2007) Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 Road Safety Authority
http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/822_RSA_Strategy_ENG.pdfPHPSESSID=7cd3d7960dc0a149655056972337bd07
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
2. Overview of Seat belt wearing survey, 2007
Overall Seatbelt Use: In 2007, the overall front seat belt wearing in the
Republic of Ireland was 88 %. This represents an increase of 2% over 2006,
and a 35 % increase since 1999.
100
Seatbelt Use by Gender Male (%) Female (%) Overall (%)
80
60
40
’91
’99
’02
’03
’05
’06
’07
Seatbelt Use by Gender
Women are more likely than men to wear seat belts
in front seats, with wearing rates of 93 % and 85 %
respectively. Females had higher seat belt use than
males whether driving as a front passenger or rear
passenger and on all types of roads.
Seatbelt Use by Road Type
While seat belt usage increases on all road types
since 1991, the greatest increases are on urban
roads in Cork, small urban areas, county roads and
urban national secondary roads. Seat belt wearing
on urban roads in Dunlaoghaire, Limerick and rural
national primary roads, while improving, did so at a
lesser rate than the other road types.
Seat Belt Wearing Rates 1999-2007 by Road Type
100
80
60
40
20
’91
’99
’02
’03
’05
’06
’07
County Roads Regional Roads Small Urban Areas Limerick (Urban) Dun Laoighaire (Urban) Dublin (Urban)
Cork (Urban)
Rural National
Secondary Roads
Rural National
Primary Roads
Urban National
Secondary Roads
Urban National
Primary Roads
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
3. Front seat belt wearing rate results
A total of 15,616 adults occupying front seats were observed in 2007. 12,319
(79%) of the adults occupying front seat observed were driving, 3,297 (21%)
were front seat passengers.
The survey results in the table below which shows
driver seat belt wearing rates by gender and road
type, indicate that wearing rates are highest in
Small Urban Areas, County roads, Cork (urban),
Dublin (urban) and Urban National Primary roads
and lowest on Limerick (urban) and National
Secondary roads.
Driver wearing rates (%) by gender and road
class
Male drivers are generally less likely to wear seat
belts: in 2007, 86 % of male drivers and 93 % of
female drivers were observed to have been wearing
seat belts. This shows a marginal increase in seat
belt rates from the 2006 figures of 82 % and 92 %,
respectively.
Seat Belt Wearing Rates by Gender and Road Type - 2007
Male (%) Female (%)
100
80
60
40
20
0
Urban
National
Primary
Roads
Urban
National
Secondary
Roads
Rural
National
Primary
Roads
Rural
National
Secondary
Roads
Cork
(Urban)
Dublin
(Urban)
Dun Laoighaire
(Urban)
Limerick
(Urban)
Small
Urban
Areas
Regional
Roads
County
Roads
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
In 2007, 83 % of male and 94 % of female front seat
passengers were observed to have been using seat
belts. Combining the driver and front passenger
wearing rates into an ‘overall front seat’ wearing
rate, this rate has improved by two percentage
points over the estimated figure in 2006 (88%). The
overall front seat rate for females increased by one
percentage point to 93 % in 2007, while the rate for
males increased by three percentage points to 85 %
in 2007.
The table below shows the association between the
driver and front passenger seat belt usage. The
results suggest that both male and female drivers
are more likely to be wearing a seat belt if the front
seat passenger is belted up. Wearing rates are
lowest for male drivers, especially for those beside
unbelted male passengers (36%).
Drivers and front passengers seat belt wearing rates (%) by gender, 1999, 2003 and 2007
100
80
60
40
20
0
Front Passengers Female
Front Passengers Male
Drivers Female
Drivers Male
2007 2003 1999
Association between the driver and front passenger seat belt usage, 2007
MALE
DRIVER
WEARING RATES
FEMALE
DRIVER
WEARING
RATES
OVERALL
DRIVER
WEARING
RATES
Driver alone 80 92 84
Male passenger wearing 96 97 96
Male passenger not wearing 36 76 43
Female passenger wearing 96 98 96
Female passenger not wearing 67 48 61
Overall Wearing Rates 86 93 88
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
4. Rear seat belt wearing rates results
On the rear seats, the wearing rate for adults has increased from 63 % in
2006 to 84 % in 2007. Women are more likely than men to wear seat belts in
rear seats, with wearing rates of 87% and 80 % respectively.
The table below shows the results of the adult rear
seat belt surveys conducted in 2007. Sample sizes
for each location were relatively small owing in part
to the low proportion of cars with an adult in the
rear seat and also reflecting the difficulty surveying
rear seats.
The total number of vehicles containing rear
passengers observed was only 866. When spread
across the 100 locations the numbers observed were
very few. In Cork the number was only 33, in
Dunlaoghaire 10 and in Limerick only 13.
Wearing rates (%) for adults in the rear seats
100
Seat Belt usage in rear seats - years 2003 - 2007 2007 2006 2005 2003
80
60
40
20
0
All
Male
Female
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
5. Student seat belt wearing survey results
Seat belt wearing rates were surveyed at a total of 28 schools, of which 15
were secondary schools. Surveyors were asked to select sites in excess of 100
metres away from each of the schools, which were the same as those chosen
for the previous (2003, 2005 and 2006) surveys and were originally chosen at
random from a list provided by the Department of Education.
List of schools surveyed
Primary Schools
Aine Naofa, Gort, Galway
Brackenstown, Swords
Christ the King Cabra
Holy Family, Balloonagh, Tralee
IIIlies, Ballymangan Lifford, Donegal
Mountmellick Convent, Laois
Naomh Padraig, Donabate
Our Lady of Consolation, Collins Avenue
Presentation College, Thurles
Rath Eoghan, Westmeath
Sciol Na Molua Ardagh, Limerick
Scoil Spirit Naomh, Bishopstown
St. Michaels Stradone, Cavan
St. Patrick’s College, Tuam
Secondary Schools
Ardee Community School
Ballymun Snr. Comp Ballymun
Belvedere College Dublin
Castlecomer Community School
Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh
Community Sch., Carrick-on-Shannon
Drumcollogher Community
Leixilip Community Celbridge Rd
Meanscoil lognaid Ris, Longmile Road
Scoil Mhuire Greenhill Carrick-on-Suir
Scoil Mhire gan Smal, Roscommon
St. Joseph’s, Rochefortbridge, Mullingar
St. Mary’s Ballysadare, Sligo
Tullow Community School
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Primary schools
A total of 415 primary school goers were surveyed in the front seat of cars. The table below shows that front
seat-belt wearing rates were significantly higher for females (80%) than for males (79%). An average of 80%
of primary school goers in the front passenger seat wore a belt in 2007, an increase of four percentage
points over the 2006 figure.
Primary schools – front seat belt wearing rates, 2007.
Not wearing Wearing Wearing Rate (%)
Female 38 155 80
Male 47 175 79
Total 2007 85 330 80
Total 2006 94 294 76
Total 2005 126 288 70
Total 2003 133 283 68
Out of a total of 599 primary school children in rear seats, 416 (or 70%) were wearing a seat belt. While this
wearing rate is lower than that for those in the front passenger seat, it represents an improvement of six
percentage points over the respective figure for 2006. Wearing rates for this cohort of males (63%) were
significantly lower than for females (75%).
Primary schools – rear seat belt wearing rates, 2007.
Not wearing Wearing Wearing Rate (%)
Female 75 229 75
Male 108 187 63
Total 2007 183 416 70
Total 2006 202 360 64
Total 2005 170 251 60
Total 2003 216 203 48
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Secondary schools
The table provides a breakdown of the wearing rates for a total of 926 secondary school goers who were
surveyed in the front passenger seat.
Secondary schools – front seat belt wearing rates, 2007.
Not wearing Wearing Wearing Rate (%)
Female 116 444 79
Male 85 283 77
Total 2007 201 727 78
Total 2006 91 655 88
Total 2005 295 623 68
Total 2003 211 343 62
The table below shows the wearing rates for secondary school students in rear seats. Wearing rates are
marginally higher for females (79%) than males (77%). The combined male and female, wearing rate for this
group was 78%.
Female secondary school goers are marginally more likely to wear seat belts in rear seats, with 66% of
females and 60% of males wearing seat belts.
Secondary schools – front seat belt wearing rates, 2007.
Not wearing Wearing Wearing Rate (%)
Female 111 213 66
Male 105 156 60
Total 2007 216 369 63
Total 2006 146 454 76
Total 2005 271 325 55
Total 2003 203 157 44
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Appendix 1: Adult Seat Belt Survey
The survey was be carried out during working hours,
Monday- Friday (9.30-17.30) and on 11 separate
road classes:
Urban national primary roads;
Urban national secondary roads;
Rural national primary roads;
Rural national secondary roads;
Cork (Urban);
Dublin (Urban);
Dun Laoghaire (Urban);
As there were no comprehensive recent estimates
for the distribution of total traffic on the network by
these various road classes, it was assumed that the
patterns of traffic had remained constant over the
period and as a consequence the target sample sizes
used in this survey were identical to that of the
1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005 surveys.
Members of An Garda Síochána, driving instructors,
taxi drivers and children were excluded from the
adult front and rear seat belt survey [separate
primary and secondary school surveys were
undertaken]. Surveyors were instructed to continue
the survey until the target sample was exceeded or
for a maximum of three hours if the quota was not
reached.
Limerick (Urban);
Small urban areas (counted as a single road
class);
Regional roads, and
County roads.
Eligible vehicles:
Cars
Light goods vehicles
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Appendix 2: Sample front seat belt survey sheet
Seat-Belt Wearing Survey Front
Site Information:
Code:
Location:
Date:
Target Sample Size:
Actual Sample Size:
Weather:
Start Time:
Finish Time:
Speed Limit:
Surveyed by:
Driver
Passenger
Male Female Seat-belt Unknown Male Female Seat-belt Unknown
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Appendix 3: Seat belt wearing rates survey locations
Table A3.1: Urban national primary roads
CODE ROAD SECTION LOCATION
28 N7 48 Inchicore
27 N4 42 Palmerstown Avenue junction
24 N7 20C Portlaoise
22 N22 5 Killarney
29 N6 2C Galway
20 N8 8 Fermoy
Table A3.2: Urban national secondary roads
CODE ROAD SECTION LOCATION
15 N60 1 Westport
26 N51 7 Navan
Table A3.1: Urban national primary roads
CODE ROAD SECTION LOCATION
19 N25 7 Near Wexford town
23 N9 01B Waterford
10 N9 10 North of Waterford
16 N2 10 Carrickmacross
11 N15 1 Lifford
12 N15 7 Donegal town
21 N15 11 Ballyshannon
25 N17 12 Julianstown – Drogheda
6 N4 16 Drumsna – Drumod
17 N6 22 Moate – Horsleap
9 N24 20 Monard – Oola
14 N21 3 Castleisland – Tralee
13 N17 15 Galway – Claregalway
Table A3.4: Rural national secondary roads
CODE ROAD SECTION LOCATION
3 N62 4 Thurles – Templemore
8 N62 5 Templemore
4 N56 9 Dungloe
2 N57 4 Foxford – Swinford
7 N55 8 Mostrim - Granard
5 N65 3 Portumna
18 N52 2 Nenagh
1 N67 4 Kilkee
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Table A3.5: Cork (urban)
CODE CITY STREET
101 Cork Monahan Road
102 Cork Mount Pleasant Road
103 Cork Clanricard Road
104 Cork North Main Street
105 Cork Cathedral Road
Table A3.6: Dublin (urban)
CODE CITY STREET
106 Dublin Walkinstown Park
107 Dublin St Finbarr’s Road
108 Dublin Old County Road
109 Dublin Kinvara Avenue
111 Dublin Tonglee Road
112 Dublin Richmond Road
113 Dublin Dolphin Road
114 Dublin Pearse Street
115 Dublin Malahide Road
116 Dublin Mount Street Upper
117 Dublin Fairview
Table A3.7: Dun Laoghaire (urban)
CODE CITY STREET
118 Dun Laoighire Ardmore Park
119 Dun Laoighire Sallynoggin Road
120 Dun Laoighire Sandycove Road
Table A3.8: Limerick (urban)
CODE CITY STREET
121 Limerick Claughan Fort
122 Limerick Brookville Avenue
123 Limerick Shelbourne Road
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Table A3.9: Small urban areas
CODE CITY STREET
201 Galway Seapoint Promenade
202 Galway Fr. Bourke Road
203 Galway Dominick Street
205 Athlone Strand Road
206 Kilkenny Michael Street
207 Carrick-on-Suir Cattlemart
208 Longford St. Josephs Road
209 Longford Great Water Street
210 Skibbereen High Street
Table A3.10: Regional roads
CODE ROAD CITY STREET
320 R576 Cork Coolagh Junction
321 R262 Donegal Donegal - Glenties
322 R671 Waterford Knocknaskadagh
327 R474 Clare Aug Na Glanna Bridge
328 R339 Galway Monivea
329 R336 Galway Irish College Spiddal
330 R414 Kildare Mountrice
331 R697 Kilkenny O’Leary’s Cross
332 R695 Kilkenny Damma
333 R513 Limerick Kilglass
334 R319 Mayo Mulrany-Achill
335 R178 Monaghan Rakeragh
336 R165 Monaghan Drumbear
337 R437 Offaly Broughall
338 R440 Offaly Cadamstown
339 R400 Westmeath Mullingar
340 R392 Westmeath Mullingar
341 R760 Wicklow Ballyvourney Road
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Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2007
Table A3.11: County roads
CODE COUNTY LOCATION
301 Cork Bartlemy
302 Cork Dirk-Long Strand
303 Laois Castletown
304 Limerick Ballyshonnaig
305 Waterford Curraghkiely
306 Cork Ballyhooly
307 Donegal McIvors Farm
308 Longford Killenboy
309 Clare Caherleen
310 Cork Meelin
311 Donegal Letterkenny – Trentagh
312 Donegal Castlemurray
313 Galway Doonwood Golflinks
314 Kerry Drumclough School
315 Laois Killenure
316 Roscommon Castleplunkit
317 Westmeath Knockaville
318 Wexford Dunganstown
319 Wexford Ballytarsna
323 Cork Cahirbarnagh
324 Cork Glanworth
325 Donegal Clonmany – Lennan
326 Offaly Rahan – Ballycumber
342 Cork Ballyknoskane
343 Cork Mallymackeagh
344 Kerry Ballineany
346 Waterford Cappaquin – Youghal
401 Dublin Tobersoole Lane
402 Dublin South Strand Road, Rush
403 Dublin Millview Road Malahide
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Working To Save Lives
Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre
Road Safety Authority
Páirc Ghnó Ghleann na Muaidhe, Cnoc an tSabhaircín, Bóthar Bhaile Átha Cliath,
Béal an Átha, Co. Mhaigh Eo.
Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Dublin Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
locall: 1890 50 60 80 fax: (096) 25 252
email: info@rsa.ie website: www.rsa.ie