Attitudes to seat belt wearing and related safety features in two cities in China

Abstract

The study aimed to establish characteristics of vehicles, occupants, seat belt and vehicle safety features for the Chinese cities of Nanjing and Zhoushan in order to interpret previously observed low seat belt wearing rates, particularly of passengers. Convenience interview surveys, stratified by vehicle and occupant type, of 2280 motor vehicle users were conducted in 2006 and 2007. Most participants (74.4%) were male, particularly drivers. Over half the occupants surveyed were aged 30–39 years. Drivers had relatively new vehicles and less driving experience compared with more motorised countries. Seat belts in most front seating positions and in half of the rear seats were fitted and functional. Where fitted, reasons for ‘never wearing’ were mostly ‘feeling trapped and uncomfortable’; inconsistent wearers were influenced by ‘habit development, trip length, speed, comfort and enforcement’. Public awareness of the safety benefits of seat belts, strong enforcement and retrofitting are necessary to overcome these barriers as achieved by past and present best practice.

Keywords:

• seat belt
• attitudes
• China
• road safety
• safety belt

Acknowledgements

Final year public health medical science students from Nanjing Medical University and South-East University (2007 only) on field experience at Jiangsu CDC and Zhoushan and Zhejiang CDC employees for seat belt wearing observations, contributions to data entry and co-supervision of data collection. Zhoushan Municipal Health Bureau, Zhoushan Ministry of Public Security and Zhoushan City government for co-operation, support and generous hospitality. Dr Stuart Newstead (MUARC) for statistical advice and Dr Zhao Ming (Zhejiang CDC) for general advice and assistance. The World Bank Global Road Safety Facility funded the research costs for this project, an Australian Post-graduate Award supported the first author for her PhD candidature.