Seat belt usage in buses – An observation study of usage and travellers’ perspectives

Anund, Anna; Forward, Sonja; Sjörs Dahlman, Anna · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2023.107138

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Summary

This study investigates seat belt usage among bus passengers in Sweden, aiming to quantify usage rates and understand the incentives and barriers influencing passenger behavior. The research was motivated by the fact that while bus travel is generally safe, severe injuries and fatalities are strongly associated with rollover crashes, particularly on rural roads, where unbuckled passengers face high risks of ejection. Despite regulations requiring seat belts in certain vehicle classes, there was a lack of recent data on actual usage rates and passenger perspectives. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach conducted in 2018, combining observational studies, focus group discussions, and a web survey. Observations were conducted across 10 Swedish cities, recording 328 buses (categorized as regional, commercial, or charter traffic) to determine the proportion of belted passengers and drivers. Focus groups included 32 participants across seven groups, comprising bus drivers, adult passengers, parents, and children aged 7–17. Additionally, a web survey gathered responses from 1,737 participants to validate observational findings and explore reasons for usage or non-usage. Results revealed significant disparities in seat belt usage based on traffic type. Observational data showed 92% usage in charter bus traffic, 50% in commercial traffic, and only 27% in regional traffic. Self-reported usage in the web survey was lower across all categories. Drivers’ usage was high but not universal, ranging from 79% to 100%. Qualitative data indicated that passengers often removed belts during long trips for comfort or sleep, despite initial compliance. Key barriers to usage included dirty or malfunctioning belts, discomfort, and concerns about being unable to unbuckle quickly enough to disembark on short trips. Conversely, the primary motivation for wearing belts was safety, particularly on high-speed roads. Participants noted that social norms, such as seeing others unbuckled, discouraged usage, while reminders from drivers or technical aids could improve compliance. The study concludes that seat belt usage requires improvement, particularly in regional and commercial bus traffic. The authors recommend systematic cleaning and maintenance of belts to address hygiene and technical issues. They suggest implementing technical solutions, such as seat belt reminder systems similar to those in passenger cars, to support drivers and passengers. For low-speed urban travel, providing sufficient seating may be more effective than enforcing belt use. The findings highlight the need for clearer enforcement, better driver support, and targeted interventions to increase usage on high-speed roads where the risk of severe injury is greatest.

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Topics

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• seat belt use
• child passenger safety

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence