Epidemiology of Motor Vehicle Injuries in Suffolk County, New York before and after Enactment of the New York State Seat Belt Use Law

Details

• Creators:
  Barancik, J. I. ; Kramer, C. F. ; Thode, Henry C., 1951-
• Corporate Creators:
  Brookhaven National Laboratory. Dept. of Applied Science
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Before And After Studies Drivers Injuries Manual Safety Belts State Laws Statistics Traffic Accidents
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-HS-807-638 ; NTIS-PB91108845
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1525290
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  New York ; United States
• Edition:
  Final report
• Contracting Officer:
  Schweitz, Robert
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  A population-based study of hospital and medical examiner reported vehicular trauma was conducted to determine the efficacy of the New York Law which compared pre-law 1984 occurrence and severity patterns with those of post-law 1985. Vehicles and occupants covered by the Law were identified primarily by matching the hospital cases with official crash reports; 95% of the covered cases (N=2152) were matched. From a census of medical examiner's cases covered by the Law (N=192), all were matched. During October 1984, pre-law observed seat belt usage in Suffolk County was 16%. A nearly fourfold increase in usage was observed in January 1985, when the Law was first enforced; in April of that year observed usage declined to 54%; by September usage dropped to 44%. The initial sharp increase in usage patterns during the first quarter of 1985 was coupled with an estimated 20% decrease in vehicular injury occurrence rates for drivers of vehicles covered by the Law. The proportion of drivers with head and brain injuries decreased by 32% and all facial injuries, including those of the forehead, decreased 28%. In contrast, cervical strain and facial fractures increased during that period. Over the entire 1985 post-law study period, similar changes in injury patterns were evident. Covered drivers across all ages experienced reductions of 18% in head and brain injury, 17% in facial injuries and 20% in forehead injuries; however, they also incurred a 35% increase in cervical strain. These findings demonstrate a clear shift in the pattern of injuries and a concomitant decline in their severity. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that promulgation and enforcement of belt use laws are contributing to a reduction in the overall occurrence of vehicular injuries and the severity of head injuries. /Abstract from report summary page/
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  IAG-DTNH22-85-C-00011
• Collection(s):
  NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cbb34e431368f590e22f094fe93c169f5427d088bf349d7dc7fafa18a8b8852d
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1505/dot_1505_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.55 MB ]