Details:

Alternative Title:
Automatic safety belt systems : changes in owner usage over time in General Motors Chevettes and Volkswagen Rabbits
Creators:
Phillips, Benjamin M.
Corporate Creators:
Opinion Research Corporation (U.S.)
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Automatic Seat Belts Manual Safety Belts Seat Belt Usage Statistics Surveys
Publication/ Report Number:
DOT-HS-806-058 ; NTIS-PB82182981
DOT-HS-806-058 ; NTIS-PB82182981 Less -
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21949/1525106
Resource Type:
Research Paper
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Corporate Publisher:
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Abstract:
This study was designed to: (1) determine any decrement in use of the automatic restraint system, and (2) assess any change in owners' attitudes toward the automatic restraint system over a two year period. The information gathered will assist the NHTSA in trying to predict any potential decrement over time of automatic belt usage if these new systems are introduced into the market place. In an earlier study, designed to ascertain usage of and attitudes toward the automatic system, telephone interviews were conducted with owners of 1978-1979 GM Chevettes and with owners of 1978 VW Rabbits. Both makes of cars when purchased had automatic restraint and starter interlock systems. In the present study, ORC conducted follow-up interviews with 417 Chevette owners and with 441 Rabbit owners from the earlier study who still owned the same cars. Findings indicate that over a period of two years there has been a statistically significant decrease in the percent of owners who report that they use the automatic safety belt. Currently, the usage rate among Chevette owners is 62.8% compared with a rate of 73.9% two years ago. The net decline in usage among Rabbit owners is also statistically significant but more modest dropping from 89.1% in 1979 to 83.0% in 1981. The decrement in usage would probably have been even larger had these cars not incorporated a starter interlock and it was possible to obtain usage data from second owners.
Content Notes:
Summary and Conclusions ... v

Introduction - Research Methodology ... ix

Detailed Findings ... 1

Trends in Belt Usage (Chevettes and Rabbits Combined) ... 2

Trends in Usage by Driver Characteristics ... 3

Trends in Usage - Chevette vs Rabbit ... 4-6

Defeat of Automatic Belt System ... 7

Trends in Attitudes Toward Automatic Belt ... 8

Appendix ... A-1

Sampling Tolerance ... A-2

Completion Rate Analysis ... A-4

Questionnaires


Format:
PDF
Funding:
DTNH-22-81-Q-07429
Collection(s):
NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:7a8f4361970cdf0584d3a9cf017aa1414ce37cbb2537f8786c54bc78d79bc847
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1326/dot_1326_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

More +