Seatbelt and child restraint use among vehicle occupants in Ho Chi Minh City: an observational study in Vietnam

Abstract

This paper presents the trend of seatbelt use, disaggregated by vehicle occupants, in Ho Chi Minh City between 2016 and 2018. We conducted statistical analyses to identify the determinants of seatbelt use, including the effect of a new fine imposed against seatbelt law violation in the rear seats that became effective in January 2018. Seatbelt use was observed in at least half of all vehicle occupants, and drivers were more likely to use seatbelts than passengers. Only 4.4% of children younger than 5-years and 2.5% of 5 to12-year-olds used a child restraint system. Seatbelt use increased among all occupants after the imposed fine, especially among rear-seat passengers. Imposing new or increasing fixed penalties, with enforcement and public education, may increase seatbelt use to prevent road traffic injuries.

Keywords:

• Child restraint system
• seatbelt
• car seat
• Southeast Asia
• penalties
• behaviour

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Ho Chi Minh National Traffic Safety Committee for its support.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study belongs in the framework of the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) project that is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The BIGRS project is a consortium that aims to reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries in ten cities in low- and middle-income countries, including HCMC in Vietnam.