[PR] Survey Of Seat Belt Wearing

Victor

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/Results_of_Nationwide_Seatbelt_Survey_Published.html

Results of Nationwide Seatbelt Survey Published

Overall improvement in wearing rates in 2006 but failure to restrain primary school goers a cause for concern.


The results of a nationwide Survey of Seatbelt Wearing on Irish roads which was conducted by the Road Safety Authority in 2006 were published today Thursday 30th August 2007.

The study reveals that 86 percent of drivers were wearing a seatbelt. This number is unchanged from the 2005 survey. Previous surveys revealed wearing rates of 85 percent in 2003 survey and 71 percent in 2002. Compared to 2005 estimates, the overall front seat rate (driver & passenger) for females remained the same (92%), while the rate for males decreased by one percentage point to 82 per cent in 2006.

The wearing rate for adults in the rear seats of cars increased from 46 percent in 2005 to 63 percent in 2006. Despite this improvement almost two out of five adults still don’t wear a seatbelt in the back seat. Women are more likely than men to belt up in rear seats, with wearing rates of 69 per cent and 54 per cent respectively.

The survey also found that there has been a sizeable improvement in the wearing rates for secondary school goers in rear seats, from 55 per cent in 2005 to 76 per cent in 2006. Female secondary school goers are marginally more likely to belt up in rear seats, with 77 per cent of females and 74 per cent of males wearing seat belts.

Despite a marginal increase (4 per cent) in the number of primary school goers being restrained in the rear of cars the overall figures are a significant cause for concern. Out of a total of 562 primary school children surveyed in rear seats, only 360 (or 64 per cent) were wearing a seat belt in 2006 compared to 60 per cent in 2005. Wearing rates for this cohort of males (64 per cent) were marginally lower than for females (65 per cent).

The 2006 estimates for drivers seatbelt use by road type were 89 percent for urban national primary, 81 percent for urban national secondary, 90 percent for rural national primary, 81 percent for rural national secondary, 85 percent for regional roads and 83 percent for county roads.

Commenting on the results Mr. Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority said, “Evidence tells us that people don’t wear their belts because they want personal freedom. They want to make the choices. But those choices are killing them. And they’re killing other people too. But at least they get to make their own decisions. What about the ones who don’t get to make their own decisions? Children. Every day in this country, almost two out of every five parents put their children at risk by not strapping them into the back seat of the car. Parents are prepared to gamble a lifetime of grief for a hassle-free journey.”

“Fastening your seatbelt, and making sure others in your vehicle do the same, or in the case of children ensuring they are safely restrained, should be the first thing you do when you get into a car.”

“Nobody in this country can say that they are not aware of the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt. The message is simple ‘No Seatbelt, No Excuse’.” Concluded Mr. Brett.

Chief Superintendent John Farelly, Garda National Traffic Bureau responding to the survey findings said, “In 2006 An Garda Síochána moved from the position where issuing a caution was an optional response to people not wearing seatbelts to a situation where issuing a fixed penalty notice became the norm. We make no apology for taking a robust approach. It continues to amaze and sadden Gardai that some people still fail to wear their seatbelts. It is even more serious - and potentially more tragic - when it is an adult who is driving around with a child unrestrained.”

“People need to be aware that the risk of detection is significant. Members of An Garda Síochána made 15,447 seatbelt detections in 2006. Those detected are issued with a fixed charge notice and are liable for penalty points, which could see them off the road for 6 months."

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SURVEY OF SEAT BELT WEARING 2006