Focus on seat belt use in China.
OBJECTIVE
To explain low seat belt use prevalence results of observation and interview surveys in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and to extend knowledge on associated seat belt use determinants.


METHODS
Ten focus groups comprising professional, owner, and taxi drivers; passengers; van drivers (Nanjing); or police (Zhoushan) were conducted to capture a range of experiences, attitudes, and opinions.


RESULTS
There was common agreement in all focus groups on the need to use seat belts on highways in the front seat but not to use in the rear seat regardless of road type. Participants generally agreed with the apparent practice of fines for drivers and warnings for front seat passengers, especially on highways. Lack of seat belt comfort was elaborated on. Professional and taxi drivers were inconvenienced by the effort involved for short trips to put on seat belts and discomfort was greater for those who did not have or could not afford to operate air conditioning. There was lack of agreement on the need to use seat belts in the city areas. Crash video clips on the nonuse of seat belts were judged by participants as potentially effective for promotion of seat belt use, especially if scenarios were associated with relatively low speeds.


CONCLUSIONS
The benefits of seat belt use for all seating positions and at low and medium speeds and awareness of passenger seat belt responsibility need to be promoted. Enforcement should be applied more consistently.
Monash University Accident Research Centre, Southbank, Victoria, Australia. virginia.routley@monash.edu
Virginia
V
Routley
Joan
J
Ozanne-Smith
Min
M
Yu
Jianyue
J
Wang
Ming
M
Wu
Junhe
J
Zhang
Yu
Y
Qin
Ming
M
Zhao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004779:Environment Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014743:Videotape Recording; D055815:Young Adult