The use of electronic messages to promote seat belt use. Report of a pilot study in Wisconsin.

The top-ten leading causes of death in the U.S. are related to behavioral risk factors (National Center for Health Statistics, 2000). Deaths from automobile accidents rank in the top-ten list, and driving without the use of seat belts ranks high as a major cause of death within this category. For example, about 60% of the deaths in motor vehicle accidents occur to those who do not wear seat belts. In 2002 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded the highest seat belt use rates of 74% in the country. This is the highest since the study began in 1994. The seat belt use rates, however, vary from one region of the country to the other. NHTSA attributes this to differences in state laws requiring use of seat belts. Overall, states with primary seat belt laws such as California, Maryland and Oregon record the highest rates (80%) of seat belt use while states with secondary seat belt laws record the lowest use rates (69%). While generally acknowledging that the use of seat belts saves lives, civil libertarians argue that primary seat belt use laws infringe on individual freedoms and privacy. Others argue that such laws give too much power to police. Because of these reasons, other ways besides the passage of primary seat belt laws must be found to increase seat belt use rates that do not infringe too much on the privacy rights of individuals. The use of electronic message boards by police officers may be the answer to such a strategy. The Wisconsin pilot study bears this out.