Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Vanhouten wmich. This study evaluated a device that prevents drivers from shifting vehicles into gear for up to 8 s unless seat belts are buckled. Participants were commercial drivers who operated vans, pickups, or other light trucks from the U. The driver could escape or avoid the delay by fastening his or her seat belt before shifting out of park. A s delay was introduced for those U.
The fixed delay was more effective for U. After the driver fastened his or her seat belt, it tended to remain fastened for the duration of the trip. Keywords: automated consequences, gearshift delay, negative reinforcement, seat belt use. Wearing a seat belt has been shown to be effective in avoiding serious injury in traffic accidents Tison et al. Although seat belt use rates in the U.
Behavioral interventions that combine enforcement and education campaigns have been associated with increases in seat belt use in the U. The approach influences behavior via the threat of direct punishment in the form of a fine that may result in rule-governed behavior e.
High-visibility enforcement can strengthen the rule when drivers see or hear about seat belt enforcement operations. The model requires substantial efforts in terms of both funding and police time. As a result, there has been renewed interest in evaluating vehicle-engineered solutions to increase seat belt use. Reminder systems were the original engineering solution to improve seat belt use. Most reminder systems focus exclusively on drivers rather than passengers. The standard reminders combine a visual icon that lasts for up to 60 s and an auditory warning that lasts between 4 and 8 s.
Malenfant and Van Houten provided evidence that the U. For example, if the prompt occurs after the driver starts the car, but before he or she scrapes the windshield in the winter, the signal will have terminated long before the driver has the opportunity to fasten his or her seat belt. Designers might optimize the effectiveness of the buckling prompt by activating the reminder after the driver has ample opportunity to buckle up without the prompt e.
