NTL Record

Title Human Factors Research on Seat Belt Assurance Systems
Record ID 68985
Personal Name
Creator
Bao, Shan; Funkhouser, Dillon S.; Buonarosa, Mary Lynn; Gilbert, Mark; LeBlanc, David J.; Ward, Nicholas J.
Corporate Creator University of Michigan. Transportation Research Institute
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 20200201
Language English
Abstract Seat belt use is critical in mitigating injury severity and road fatalities from motor vehicle crashes. The design of a seat belt assurance system (SBAS) aims to promote more seat belt use, especially among drivers who do not have the habit of always using seat belts. This study was conducted to evaluate how part-time seat belt users interact with two prototype SBASs, a transmission interlock system and a speed limiter system, under naturalistic driving settings. A total of 48 part-time seat belt users participated and each participant was given one type of the SBASs for three weeks, one baseline week (i.e., the SBAS was not turned on), and two treatment weeks (i.e., the SBAS was activated). Data on participants’ driving behavior and their interactions with the SBAS was collected and along with subjective ratings were used in the final analysis. The results showed statistically significant improvement in seat belt use for both SBAS types such that the percentage of unbelted driving time (or trips) significantly decreased during the treatment period as compared to the percentage of unbelted driving time (or trips) during the baseline period. The average treatment period related reduction in unbelted driving time was about 14.4 percent while the reduction in unbelted trips was about 19.8 percent. High user acceptance was also observed that in general participants perceived the benefits during their experience with the technology. About 95 percent of drivers agreed or strongly agreed the technology was easy to use.
Rosap ID dot:43798
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/43798
TRT Terms Seat belts; Seat belt use; Automatic data collection systems; Human factors; Automatic seat belts; Restraint systems
General Subjects SBAS; naturalistic driving
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Contract Number DTNH22-11-D-00236, Task Order #13
Report Number DOT HS 812 838
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/68000/68900/68985/DOT-HS-812-838_20200205.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository