USE OF SEAT BELTS IN A DUBLIN AREA

This study examines public compliance with seat belt regulations. Two busy suburbs in north Dublin were studied. Of the 2,139 vehicles surve yed 1,160 (54.2%) drivers wore a seat belt. Young female drivers were most likely to comply with the regulations (70.1%). Only 344 (46.1%) f ront seat passengers wore their seat belt. 188 children who appeared t o be under 10 years of age were observed in the front seat of vehicles and of those just 9 babies were appropriately restrained. Of the back seat passengers 108 (19.2%) wore seat belts; 99 (21.8%) children and 9 (9.8%) adults. Despite on-going publicity and progression in the reg ulations our use of seat belts is grossly disappointing. Road traffic accidents exert an unacceptably high toll on health in Ireland. Seat b elts are known to be effective in preventing serious injury. A much gr eater emphasis on enforcement of legislation is now urgently needed to encourage responsible behaviour among vehicle users and to reduce the needless suffering due to road traffic accidents.