Fatal Crash Seat Belt Use Reporting and Awareness

The objective of this project is to address two research questions related to the reporting of belt status in fatal crashes as a possible countermeasure for increasing belt use. This study will first explore the process through which seat belt statuses are reported in news media. This study will then assess whether individuals recognize the status of seat belt use in news reports. Regarding the first part, the project will identify fatal passenger vehicle crashes using the Fatality Analysis and Reporting System (FARS), collect police and news contacts with the public regarding the fatal crashes, identify whether seat belt status was included in these contacts, and collect qualitative data regarding the police and media’s process for reporting belt status. Regarding the second part, the project will conduct an online, experimental study of whether adults are aware of seat belt status when reading a story about a fatal crash. This project will support efforts to increase occupant protection by examining previously unexplored factors that may be related to seat belt use.

• Record URL:
  https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202202-2127-003

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $387988
• Contract Numbers:

  DTNH2216D00016

  693JJ919F000186

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, D.C.  United States  20590

  Office of Behavioral Safety Research

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, District of Columbia  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, D.C.  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Blenner, Jordan

• Performing Organizations:

  TransAnalytics, LLC

  336 West Broad Street
  Quakertown, PA  United States  18951
• Principal Investigators:

  Blenner, Jordan

• Start Date: 20190924
• Expected Completion Date: 20251231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Behavioral Safety Research
• Subprogram: Seat Belt Use

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Awareness; Fatalities; News; Police reports; Seat belt use
• Identifier Terms: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01718705
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Contract Numbers: DTNH2216D00016, 693JJ919F000186
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 3 2019 1:57PM