Public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior toward Kansas mandatory seatbelt use: implications for public health policy.

State law and policies established by legislative bodies represent an important machinery for amplifying the effects of behavior change efforts in individuals and groups. This study shows the inter-relationships of public health policy, behavior, attitude, knowledge of the general public and how their outcomes can affect health and safety, policy formulation, enactment, implementation, policy evaluation and its revision or repeal. Observational and interview surveys of the driving public were conducted over an eighteen month period (1987-1989) in Kansas. Results showed major differences in the public's knowledge, attitudes, and behavior toward the new mandatory seatbelt law across different geographic locations of metropolitan, urban and suburban areas. The new law had the support of more than half of those interviewed. The public's knowledge and attitude on the seatbelt use and law were far from being ideal. Much work is needed to convince about 27% of the driving public who declared they never use their seatbelts and would ignore any law/policy that would force them to comply.