Seat Belt Use by Missouri Teens*
Abstract
In 2006, the Institute of Public Policy conducted 12 focus groups with Missouri teens on behalf of the Missouri Department of Transportation to:1) understand how teenagers make decisions on seatbelt use; and
2) determine what outreach methods could influence teens' decisions regarding seatbelt use and traffic safety. The study found that teens' seatbelt use is set well before they begin driving, that the lack of use of seatbelts among parents is especially influential, and that teens are not well informed about the consequences of accidents when drivers or passengers are not wearing seatbelts. This report summarizes studies of seatbelt use in Missouri as compared to other states and describes teens' attitudes about seatbelt usage. Finally, it recommends that the Department continue its teen- focused informational campaign and that the state enact primary enforcement of the seatbelt law.
Part of
Citation
Richardson, L. et al. (2007). "Seat Belt Use by Missouri Teens." Report 1-2007. Retrieved from University of Missouri Columbia, Institute of Public Policy Web site: http://www.truman.missouri.edu/ipp/
Rights
OpenAccess
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.