Citation

Tarawneh MS, Al-Balbissi AH, Tarawneh TM. J. Traffic Med. 2001; 29(3-4): 30-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Objective: To improve seat belt usage rate in Jordan through the implementation of a public education campaign was implemented. Educational materials about the safety benefits of seat belts were delivered to the public via Mosques and Churches, television, radio, and newspapers. Methodology: The effectiveness of the campaign in increasing driver seat belt use rate, as well as its level of outreach to the general driver population, were evaluated through two studies. The first study included observational seat belt use of nearly 28000 drivers at 27 stations before and then 4-months after the campaign; and the second study was personal interviews with 3000 drivers. Data were analyzed based on driver gender, vehicle use, and location using Z- and Chi-Square Statistics. Results: The results revealed that the campaign was effective in increasing the seat belt use rate from 19% before the campaign to 28% few months later after the campaign; i. e. a 47% increase was accomplished. Male drivers who had lesser seat belt use before the campaign benefited more from the campaign than their female counterparts. Drivers within city streets environment who had lesser seat belt use before the campaign benefited more from the campaign than drivers within highways environment. The seat belt public education campaign was effective in improving the seat belt use rate among private vehicle drivers on both city streets and highways, and also among taxicab drivers on city streets only. Even though after-campaign improvements had occurred to service vehicle and bus drivers; however, improvements were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The outreach of the seat belt public education campaign invovled nearly 60% of the driver population. Mosques and Churches were the most effective mean of reaching the general driver population compared television, radio, and newspapers.