Road Safety News
Active Road Safety messages proves efficiency
If a waitress told you "Bye and don't forget to wear your seatbelt" when you're leaving a restaurant, would that make you more likely to wear it? If you saw a student holding up a "Please Hang Up - I Care" poster when you've pulling out from a parking lot, would that actually make you look away from your phone?
Apparently, yes; it does.
Experiments conducted in United States showed that active Road Safety messages are effective in reducing the number of dangerous behaviors on the roads.
The first experiment was conducted in a restaurant in Michigan where waitresses regularly said "Goodbye" and opened the door for exiting customers. While seatbelt use was low during initial observations (57%), researchers observed its increase (to 77%) after hostesses added "Don't forget to buckle up" to their regular "goodbye" message.
The second experience took place in a parking lot of a Southeastern university in the US. At the exit of the parking lot stood a student holding a poster "Please Buckle Up - I Care" or "Please Hang Up - I Care" to drivers not respecting the law. If drivers would put on their seatbelt or hang up their phone, they would then be shown a "Thank You" poster. But while researchers confirmed the long-term efficiency of this awareness method to increase the use of seatbelt, they recognized that most driver has reengaged with their cell phone within a block.
Yet, campaigns such as these ones could be very efficient to reduce the number of dangerous behaviors adopted by road users, and ultimately save lives. So don't forget to tell your loved ones to adopt a safe attitude on the roads!
