Risk Mechanisms and Safety Belt Use

This project is a discretionary cooperative agreement (DCA) with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This agreement is a 5-year research program to study the mechanisms underlying risk perception, and to develop strategies to positively influence safety belt use. The project will be directed by Dr. David W. Eby, Research Associate Professor and Head of UMTRI's Behavioral Sciences Group, with Dr. Paul A. Green as Co-Principal Investigator and Ms. Lisa J. Molnar as a key investigator.

The overall goal of this project is to develop testable strategies, based upon basic and applied research, for influencing risk perception to move motor vehicle occupants from part-time to full-time use of safety belts. The project will include a systematic review and synthesis of literature related to potential reasons for safety belt non-use. This review will include risk, decision-making, emotions, occupant protection, and several other areas. In years two through four of the project, multiple small-scale experiments and studies will be conducted in various areas identified by the literature review. These studies will be varied in their nature, but will all move towards the final goal of understanding the underlying mechanisms involved with part-time safety belt use, and creating new strategies to move part-time users to full-time safety belt users. The final year of the project will take the results of these studies and develop and test new programs, interventions, or other applications for the use of traffic safety professionals to that end.

The project will be overseen by a faculty oversight committee selected from the University of Michigan. The faculty oversight committee consists of: Dr. J. Frank Yates (Psychology, Business, Decision Consortium); Dr. Stephen Pollock (Industrial and Operations Engineering, Decision Consortium); Dr. Alfred Franzblau (Environmental Health Sciences, Emergency Medicine, Center for Risk and Communication); and Dr. Lee A. Green (Family Medicine, Decision Consortium). The project also has an external advisory board composed of stakeholders that can provide advice on the feasibility of implementing the project’s outcomes. The advisory board is composed of: Mr. Michael Prince (Director, Michigan Office of Highway Planning, Michigan State Police); Ms. Linda Scarpetta (Manager, Michigan Department of Community Health, Injury Prevention Section); Ms. Heather Hockanson (Chair, Occupant Protection Action Team, Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee); and Ms. Kim Lariviere (Michigan Department of Transportation, Traffic and Safety Division).

While some of the issues underlying part-time safety belt use have been investigated, this project will bring UMTRI’s vast experience in the field of occupant protection together with others on campus that have expertise in risk and decision-making. This multi-disciplinary approach will add a fresh perspective to the problem and will invite innovative ideas for increasing belt use.

Click here to view the literature review that was conducted for the project.

Three research projects were recently awarded through the DCA. Click below to read more information about each:

A Brief Tailored Family-Centered Seatbelt Intervention for Hospitalized Trauma

Psychological Factors in Promoting Safety Belt Use Among Part-Time Users

Using the News Media to Disseminate Booster Seat Information to the American Public: How Police Interact with the Media and How Can We Improve It