Multipoint seat-belt safety campaign
To address the 20 percent of vehicle occupants who still ride without a seat belt, state and federal safety professionals will soon be launching local media blitzes to drive home the buckle-up message. The campaigns go local, featuring stories in small-town newspapers and local TV stations about the importance of belt use. A major national "Click it or Ticket" campaign is scheduled to kick off May 21st. You may also see advertised warnings, perhaps even in neighborhood movie theaters, that police are preparing random check-points to catch people not wearing belts. If you haven't got the message from the newspaper or TV, you might get it from a police officer writing you a ticket at the side of the road.
While a fine can be a strong deterrent to riding unbelted, the real motivation for wearing a seat belt should be accident "survivability." Most people can pay a fine, but none of us can overcome the laws of physics in a car accident. Just ask New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine.
If the message doesn't reach you, the police will
The vigorous visible enforcement component of the campaign involves police conducting intensely stepped-up traffic stops over short prescribed periods, such as holiday weekends, or at random intervals thereafter. Federal and state governments are putting aside more money for this. The idea here is that visible enforcement gets people into the habit of buckling up, if for no other reason than to avoid a stiff fine.
The key message is that the enforcement isn't a one-time thing. What researchers have discovered is that to be truly effective at changing people's habits, authorities have to run follow-up crackdowns in the same area several times.
So, if you start seeing posters or ads around your town with the slogan "Click it or Ticket," make sure your belt is fastened and check your passengers. Buckling should be a habit. The fear of a fine might get your attention, but self-preservation should be motivation enough. Corzine's 12 broken ribs and shattered leg could be a powerful reminder of the consequences of thinking you're above the seat-belt laws.
Posted by: Gerhardt | May 3, 2007 11:55:28 PM
In January of 06 we purchased a Toyota Echo for my wife. This vehicle was about the only one we could afford that my wife with a slight mobility disability could get into on her own without too much difficulty. This vehicle has given us good service without any major breakdowns. My only issue has been the road noise(aprox 93decibles at 60 mph on a good road, up to 99db on a rough road) that readily enters the cabin due to lack of soundproofing. After reading recently what acceptable noise levels are for your ears, I am shocked that a major manufacturer of automobiles would sell a car with this lack of sound insulation. In fact I think it should be illegal to sell cars like this. Last week I purchased some carpet underlay for automobiles aprox 1/2" thick and subsequently started insulating the car, although not quite finished the sound level at 60mph on a good road is now down to 88db hopefully I can get it down another 3 db especially as we use this vehicle for long distance trips. Last weekend we logged aproximately 700 miles. At over 40 mpg (US)cost was a definate plus!
Posted by: Dave | May 10, 2007 9:02:24 AM
I think cars should come with optional 6-point seat belts for those who want extra dose of safety.
Posted by: David Baraff | Jul 26, 2007 3:33:05 PM
I have a 1999 Infinity I30 and a 2003 Nissan Pathfinder. I have measured the sound level in both cars on a series of pavements at speeds between 60 and 70 mph and find the noise levels to be between 90 and 93 dBA. This was surprisingly high.
Does anyone else have sound measurements done inside the car in this speed range. I am looking for a quieter car.