Vital signs: seat belt use among long-haul truck drivers--United States, 2010.
BACKGROUND
Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States in 2012, accounting for 25% of deaths. Truck drivers accounted for 46% of these deaths. This study estimates the prevalence of seat belt use and identifies factors associated with nonuse of seat belts among long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs), a group of workers at high risk for fatalities resulting from truck crashes.


METHODS
CDC analyzed data from its 2010 national survey of LHTD health and injury. A total of 1,265 drivers completed the survey interview. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between seat belt nonuse and risk factors.


RESULTS
An estimated 86.1% of LHTDs reported often using a seat belt, 7.8% used it sometimes, and 6.0% never. Reporting never using a belt was associated with often driving ≥10 mph (16 kph) over the speed limit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9), working for a company with no written safety program (AOR = 2.8), receiving two or more tickets for moving violations in the preceding 12 months (AOR = 2.2), living in a state without a primary belt law (AOR = 2.1); and being female (AOR = 2.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 14% of LHTDs are at increased risk for injury and death because they do not use a seat belt on every trip. Safety programs and other management interventions, engineering changes, and design changes might increase seat belt use among LHTDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary state belt laws can help increase belt use among LHTDs. Manufacturers can use recently collected anthropometric data to design better-fitting and more comfortable seat belt systems.
Guang X
GX
Chen
James W
JW
Collins
W Karl
WK
Sieber
Stephanie G
SG
Pratt
Rosa L
RL
Rodríguez-Acosta
Jennifer E
JE
Lincoln
Jan
J
Birdsey
Edward M
EM
Hitchcock
Cynthia F
CF
Robinson
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012894:Sleep Stages; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance