Seat belt use in a developing country: covert noncompliance with a primary enforcement law in Malaysia.
Malaysia has strict laws requiring seat belt use by all vehicle occupants. However, neither passive devices nor inertial reel belts are mandated. Seat belt usage was investigated among 60 taxicab drivers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1993. Although all drivers appeared to be restrained during an initial curb-side inspection, 60% did not fasten the latch. There was no statistical difference between ethnic groups. Curb-side estimates of restraint use may overestimate actual usage, resulting in falsely low estimates of effectiveness. Requiring inertial reel belts, which would retract if not latched, could greatly increase actual restraint use. This may be cost effective for developing nations.
Hauswald
M
M
University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5246, USA. mhauswal@medusa.unm.edu
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*