This was revealed today in a survey commissioned by the DOE on the wearing of seat belts in Northern Ireland.
In total 16,364 cars were observed and details of 25,121 occupants recorded. Survey data were collected at 15 sites throughout Northern Ireland. Six sites were located on rural roads, six on urban roads and three on motorways.
Fieldwork involved observing stationary traffic and recording details including gender, estimated age and whether a seat belt or child restraint was being used by car occupants.
The key points from the survey are as follows:
Seat Belt Wearing Rates
In April 2007, 95% of both drivers and front seat passengers were observed wearing a seat belt. The wearing rate recorded for back seat passengers was 90%. The overall wearing rate was 95%.
Changes in Seat Belt Wearing Rates since April 2006
Over the last year, the observed seat belt wearing rate for drivers and front seat passengers has increased from 93% to 95%. The rate for back seat passengers has risen by five percentage points to 90%.
Back Seat Belt Wearing Rates
The overall seat belt wearing rate for back seat passengers (90%) disguises different wearing rates for adults (14 years and over) and children (13 years and under). 84% of adults wore a seat belt in the back, compared to 93% of children. This compares with April 2006, when 78% of adults and 90% of children were recorded wearing a seatbelt in the back.
Back Seat Belt Wearing Rates by Age
Children under one year of age have the highest back seat restraint wearing rate (98%). The age groups with the lowest back seat wearing rates were 14 to 29 year olds and 30 to 59 year olds (83%). This figure represents the highest rate recorded for 14 to 29 year olds and 30 to 59 year olds since the series began in 1994. However, 10% of those aged between 5 and 9 years were recorded as travelling unrestrained in the back seat.
Influence of Driver upon Seat Belt Wearing Rates for Passengers
There was a marked difference in the seat belt wearing rate for both front and back seat passengers depending on whether the driver of the vehicle wore a seat belt. 96% of front seat passengers wore a seat belt when the driver was wearing one, compared to only 59% when the driver was not. In the back seat, 91% of passengers wore a seat belt when the driver also wore one, compared to 64% when the driver did not.
Wearing rate by Gender
The overall seat belt wearing rate of drivers was recorded as 97% for females and 94% for males. There was little difference in the overall level of back seat restraint usage by gender. However, in the front seat, 92% of males compared to 96% of females were restrained.
Notes to Editors:
1. This is the eighteenth in a series of Seat Belt Surveys. The series, which began in 1994, was conducted biannually, in April and October. However, from April 1997 the survey was conducted on an annual basis in April of each year, with the exception of 2001 when a survey was carried out in both April and October. Recording took place between 08:30 and 17:00 on Tuesday 24th and Saturday 28th April 2007.
3. Hard copies of both the ‘Northern Ireland Seat Belt Survey April 2007 Report’ and the ‘Northern Ireland Seat Belt Bulletin April 2007’ are available free of charge from:
Central Statistics and Research Branch, Department of the Environment (NI), Room 4.02, Clarence Court, 10 - 18 Adelaide Street, BELFAST BT2 8GBTelephone: (028) 9054 0808
E-mail: csrb@drdni.gov.uk
4. For further media information contact DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
