A cost benefit analysis of an enhanced seat belt enforcement program in South Africa

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a program to increase the wearing of seat belts in a South African urban area would be worthwhile in societal terms. DESIGN: A cost benefit analysis of a one year enhanced seat belt enforcement program in eThekwini (Durban) Municipality. METHODS: Data were drawn from two main sources--a 1998 study of the cost of road crashes in South Africa and, given the absence of other data, a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of various types of interventions to reduce road crash casualties in the United States--and were analyzed using cost benefit analysis. RESULTS: A program designed to enforce greater wearing of seat belts, estimated to cost 2 million rand in one year, could be reasonably expected to increase seat belt usage rates by 16 percentage points and reduce fatalities and injuries by 9.5%. This would result in saved social costs of 13.6 million rand in the following year or a net present value of 11.6 million rand. There would also be favorable consequences for municipal finances. CONCLUSIONS: Investment in a program to increase seat belt wearing rates is highly profitable in societal terms.