Moderating Effects of Social Assistance on Verbal Interventions to Promote Safety Belt Use

Research was conducted to examine the effectiveness of posting a written sign (e.g., "Please Buckle Up, I Care") to prompt the safety belt use of drivers exiting a university parking lot. In addition, the moderating effects of an intervention agent holding the written sign was evaluated (i.e., a socially assisted intervention). The results showed the effectiveness of a socially assisted written sign was greater than presenting a written sign alone. The results and interventions, in general, are discussed within a rule-governed and verbal-intervention framework.