Seat Belts: The Forgotten Road Safety Priority Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 1 About PACTS ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 2 Foreword by Barry Sheerman MP ........................................................................................................... 3 Foreword by PACTS and Direct Line Group ............................................................................................ 4 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5 2 Research method ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Literature review ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Interviews and information requests ..................................................................................... 6 2.3 Data ......................................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Advisory panel ......................................................................................................................... 6 3 The history of seat belts ................................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Technical development ........................................................................................................... 7 3.2 UK seat belt legislation............................................................................................................ 9 3.3 Penalties for non-wearing ..................................................................................................... 11 3.4 Seat belt wearing rates over time ......................................................................................... 12 3.5 Seat belt educational campaigns in the UK .......................................................................... 13 4 The current situation .................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Seat belt wearing rates ......................................................................................................... 15 4.1.1 Age, gender and seating position ................................................................................. 15 4.1.2 Road type ...................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Fatal and seriously injured casualties ................................................................................... 17 4.3 The danger of not wearing a seat belt .................................................................................. 17 4.4 Effectiveness of seat belts..................................................................................................... 18 4.5 Reporting rates ..................................................................................................................... 18 4.5.1 Numbers and proportions ............................................................................................. 19 4.5.2 Gender and age ............................................................................................................. 19 4.5.3 Seating position ............................................................................................................. 21 4.5.4 IMD decile ..................................................................................................................... 23 4.5.5 Mosaic ........................................................................................................................... 24 4.6 Other factors associated with non-use ................................................................................. 25 4.6.1 Time of day .................................................................................................................... 25 4.6.2 Road type ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.6.3 Permanent speed limit .................................................................................................. 27 Seat Belts: The Forgotten Road Safety Priority 4.6.4 Vehicle age .................................................................................................................... 28 4.7 Combined variables............................................................................................................... 29 4.7.1 Contributory factors ...................................................................................................... 31 5 Reasons for non-wearing ............................................................................................................. 34 5.1 Lack of habit or forgetting..................................................................................................... 34 5.1.1 Habit formation ............................................................................................................. 35 5.1.2 The seat belt habit ........................................................................................................ 35 5.2 Feeling safe without a seat belt ............................................................................................ 35 5.2.1 Airbags and other safety features ................................................................................. 36 5.3 Belief that seatbelts can be dangerous ................................................................................. 36 5.3.1 Pregnancy ...................................................................................................................... 37 5.4 Discomfort............................................................................................................................. 37 5.5 Peer pressure ........................................................................................................................ 37 5.6 Sensation seeking.................................................................................................................. 37 5.7 Rebellion/libertarian Instincts .............................................................................................. 38 5.8 Perceived lack of enforcement ............................................................................................. 38 5.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 38 6 Interventions to increase seat belt wearing ................................................................................ 39 6.1 New and increased penalties ................................................................................................ 39 6.1.1 Penalty points ............................................................................................................... 40 6.1.2 Fines .............................................................................................................................. 44 6.2 Increased and enhanced enforcement ................................................................................. 47 6.2.1 Improved camera technology ....................................................................................... 51 6.3 Education .............................................................................................................................. 53 6.3.1 National campaigns ....................................................................................................... 53 6.3.2 Remedial training .......................................................................................................... 56 6.3.3 Local authorities and education .................................................................................... 57 6.4 Technology ............................................................................................................................ 59 6.4.1 Seat belt reminders ....................................................................................................... 59 6.4.2 Effectiveness of seat belt reminders ............................................................................. 59 6.4.3 Gearlocks and interlocks ............................................................................................... 60 6.4.4 Cheat devices ................................................................................................................ 60 6.4.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 61 6.4.6 Opportunities from other innovations .......................................................................... 61 6.5 Driver insurance .................................................................................................................... 63 6.5.1 Better information for insurers to identify risky drivers ............................................... 63 Seat