Evaluation of a Rural Demonstration Program to Increase Seat Belt Use in the Great Lakes Region(Repo

Six States in the Great Lakes Region (Region 5) participated in a Rural Demonstration Program to increase seat belt use in rural areas and among high-risk occupants, such as young males and occupants of pickup trucks. These efforts preceded statewide Click It or Ticket mobilizations in 2005 and 2006. Results from telephone surveys showed large and significant increases in awareness of program efforts, including special enforcement. These results also suggested that the 2006 program had higher baseline rates of awareness and slightly less change associated with it than the 2005 effort. In addition to significant overall increases in all States, there were significant increases among key high-risk groups, including males, younger people, and occupants of pickup trucks. Two-year increases among these groups averaged 11 to 12 percentage points. Trends in seat belt usage, both observed and among crash victims, showed continued increases during the period of the RDP/CIOT mobilizations.