"Buckle Up! Emory Needs You!" These friendly words, placed on signs at the exits of five parking lots at Emory University, failed to increase safety belt use in drivers leaving the lots.

Safety belts are the single most important intervention in the prevention of motor vehicle deaths and injuries, and many strategies have been implemented to encourage voluntary use of belts. In this study, a volunteer recorded safety belt use by drivers leaving the lot before the signs were installed; signs were then positioned at the exits and the volunteer recorded seat belt use at two time points after installation.

Overall, the baseline rate of seat belt use, 83%, was significantly higher than the county rate of 62%, and seat belt use was higher among women (85%) than men (79%). Three to four weeks after the installation of the signs, the safety belt use rate was 84%. Eight to nine weeks after installation, the rate was 83%.

Other methods of public education are needed to reach the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's goal of 90% safety belt use by 2005.

Clack ZA, et al. Ann Emerg Med 2000;36(6):597-601.