Legislation and the prediction of reported seat belt use.

The major focus of this study was on differences between jurisdictions with seat belt use laws and jurisdictions without such laws in the relative importance of factors that influence reported seat belt use. A nationally representative sample of 2047 Canadians was interviewed personally about their attitudes toward and use of seat belts. Multiple regression analyses performed separately for legislated and unlegislated respondents revealed that, for both groups, the major predictors of reported seat belt use (past and intended) were attitudes toward seat belt use, normative pressure from friends and family to wear belts, and favorability toward seat belt use laws. Up to 53% of the variance in reported seat belt use was accounted for by these factors and the presence of a seat belt law. The implications of these results for public education programs to promote seat belt use are discussed. (Author/TRRL)