Results Indicate Positive Changes after ‘Buckle Up’ Intervention
In Greater Cincinnati
During our pilot implementation of the Buckle Up for Life Program in Greater Cincinnati, a total of 2,401 drivers and passengers from 12 Hispanic churches were observed.
First Trial
Following our intervention in the first three churches, drivers and passengers increased seat belt use from 63 percent to 92 percent and from 44 percent to 85 percent, respectively. Thirty-one percent of children were restrained in a seat belt or car seat before the intervention, but 88 percent were restrained after the intervention. Six months after the intervention, 77 percent children were restrained.
Second Trial
In the second trial, which comprised two intervention churches and two control churches, drivers in participating churches increased restraint use from 30 percent to 85 percent, adult passengers increased restraint use from 40 percent to 87 percent, and the percent of children restrained in a car seat or seat belt increased from 16 percent to 100 percent.
Third Trial
In the final trial, which did not include any control churches, drivers increased restraint use from 35 percent to 92 percent, adult passengers increased restraint use from 20 percent to 89 percent, and the percent of restrained children increased from 47 percent to 98 percent.
In Los Angeles
Within three African-American churches we worked with in Los Angeles, child passengers were much more likely to be restrained after they and their guardians participated in Buckle Up for Life. Only 44 percent of children were restrained with either a seat belt or car seat before the program, yet 63 percent were restrained after the program.
Even more dramatic was the change in seating position among children. Eighty percent rode in the back seat before the program. After the program, 100 percent rode in the back seat.
We are currently implementing the program in Chicago and San Antonio. We’ll share the results from those cities once the program is complete.
