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Safety devices in passenger cars

 

Surveys on the presence and use of seat belts by drivers and passengers on the front seats of passenger cars are almost yearly conducted by SWOV since 1968. The surveys were extended to seat belts on the back seats and to children restraint systems since 1989. All of these studies were conducted on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Transport (R-95-20).
Data were gathered in actual traffic by observations at traffic lights on several types of roads and by setting up an inquiry into a part of the observed drivers and passengers.

The main conclusions of the survey are that since 1992:

 

It is recommended to pay more attention to the necessity of (proper) seat belt use. The increase of seat belt use has good prospects as can be seen from foreign experiences. A combination of information and enforcement campaigns is the proper way to realise this.

Besides people should be better informed about the benefits of proper adjusted head rests. Moreover technical improvements can be considered which can help overcome certain often mentioned problems by drivers and passengers like discomfort, forgetfulness, etc.

SWOV Research Activities 5 - March 1996

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