INTRODUCTION Seat belt use reduces the risk of injuries and fatalities among motor vehicle occupants in a crash, but belt use in rear seating positions is consistently lower than front seating positions. Knowledge is limited concerning factors associated with seat belt use among adult rear seat passengers. METHODS Data from the 2012 ConsumerStyles survey were used to calculate weighted percen...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to provide an updated estimate of the effectiveness of belt-positioning booster (BPB) seats compared with seat belts alone in reducing the risk for injury for children aged 4 to 8 years. METHODS Data were collected from a longitudinal study of children who were involved in crashes in 16 states and the District of Columbia from December 1, 1998, to Nov...

BACKGROUND The effects of seat belt laws and public education campaigns on seat belt use are assessed on the basis of observational or self-reported data on seat belt use. Previous studies focusing on front seat occupants have shown that self-reports indicate a greater seat belt usage than observational findings. Whether this over-reporting in self reports applies to rear seat belt usage, and t...

Blunt chest trauma is a rare cause of aortic valve dysfunction. A case of the successful management of traumatic injury to the aortic valve is reported. The aortic valve injury was sustained in an automobile accident despite the use of a seat belt and the deployment of an air bag. The literature is briefly reviewed. Aortic valve injury remains a consideration in cases of automobile-associated c...

OBJECTIVE Many modern cars have seat belt reminders (SBRs) using loud and clear sound and light signals. These systems have developed over the last few years. This study investigates how these modern systems influence the seat belt use in real-life traffic in built-up areas in some European cities. METHODS The data were collected by field observations in major cities in six European countries...

OBJECTIVE Observe and report seat belt use among children transported in belt-positioning booster seats. DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional, observational survey of children transported in motor vehicles between 2006 and 2007. While drivers completed a survey reporting the child's age, weight and gender, and the driver's age, gender, race, income, education, and relationship to the child; ...

OBJECTIVES Traffic crashes are a leading cause of deaths and injuries in Pakistan. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 30,131 people die in road crashes annually on Pakistani roads (WHO 2013). The use of seat belts can be effective in reducing road crash fatalities in Pakistan but under existing seat belt laws, seat belt use is mandatory only for drivers and is limi...

OBJECTIVE Injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are a major challenge to the Jamaican healthcare system. In November 1999, Jamaica enacted legislation to make seat belt usage in motor vehicles compulsory. The effect of this policy change on seat belt usage is unclear. This study therefore sought to determine the prevalence of seat belt usage and to determine the association betwe...

Trauma remains a leading cause of death and disability in America, and motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are the most common cause of serious injury in West Virginia. In this study, we examined the role of seat belt use or non-use in the death, disability, and hospital charges of 500 patients admitted after MVC to a rural Level 1 trauma center in 1990. Eighty percent of the patients who required hosp...

Roadway incidents involving motorized vehicles accounted for 24% of fatal occupational injuries in the United States during 2013 and were the leading cause of fatal injuries among workers.* In 2013, workers' compensation costs for serious, nonfatal injuries among work-related roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles were estimated at $2.96 billion.(†) Seat belt use is a proven method...