AN EVALUATION OF A SAFETY BELT INTERLOCK SYSTEM

FIVE VARIATIONS OF A SPECIAL SAFETY BELT SYSTEM WERE INSTALLED IN GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CARS LOANED TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FOR BUSINESS TRIPS. THE IMPORTANT FEATURE WAS AN INTERLOCK DEVICE WHICH PREVENTED THE STARTING MOTOR FROM OPERATING UNLESS THE SAFETY BELTS WERE FASTENED. IF THE BELTS WERE FASTENED ONCE THE ENGINE STARTED, A FLASHING LIGHT AND IN SOME SYSTEMS A BUZZER ALSO WOULD BE ACTIVATED. ACCEPTANCE OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEMS WAS DETERMINED BY HAVING A DISPATCHER GIVE THE DRIVERS AN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM AND A QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO ASSESS HIS REACTIONS TO THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. A LARGER PROPORTION OF DIRVERS STATED THEY WOULD ACCEPT AN INTERLOCK TYPE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM. A LARGE PROPORTION OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE LOW SAFETY BELT USAGE IN THEIR PRIVATE CARS (LESS THAN 50 PERCENT) EXPRESSED A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. THESE RESULTS INDICATE THAT MOST DRIVERS WOULD ACCEPT A DEVICE IN THEIR VEHICLES THAT REQUIRES OR REMINDS THEM TO FASTEN THEIR SAFETY BELTS. /HSL/