Predicting seat belt use among rural drivers based on theory of planned behavior

Introduction: Seat belt wearing reduce the severity of injury and fatality of road relatedaccidents. Based on statistics, the rate of severity of injuries and fatalities among rural driverswas more than urban drivers. There is limited study on wearing seat belt and effective factorson it in rural residents drivers. The aim of the this study was to predict wearing seat belt amongrural drivers based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and determine its effective factors.Methods: This study was conducted among ۴۵۰ rural drivers that resident in Hashtroud district,in Iran. The tools for the collection of data was a questionnaire that consists of questions ondemographic information and general information about traffic- related behavior, and questionson seat belt use based of constructs of TPB. Regression analysis used for the prediction ofconstructs of TPB.Results: Results demonstrated that ۵۹.۱ % of drivers strictly adhere to the traffic rules, ۶۳.۵%of rural rivers believes that wearing seat belt in rear seat in rural rods is mandatory. Nearly half(۴۸.۶%) of drivers had experience of a fine due to not seat belt use. Only ۲۱.۴ % and ۱۹% ofdrivers’ wear seat belt in the front seat and rear seat on rural roads, respectively. The rate ofwearing seat belt in front seat in outside of city roads was high compared to other roads. Basedon TPB, the constructs of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controlsignificantly predicted intention of seat belt wearing, and behavioral intention significantlypredicted seat belt use behavior. Adhering to the traffic rules, parent behavior, havingexperience of training seat belt use by parents and friends, and being fine for not wearing a seatbelt had a significant impact on seat belt use behavior (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Prevention measures such as tacking advantage of seat belt use for rural driversand strict monitoring by law enforcement regarding seat belt use on rural roads could be suitablein decreasing the severity of injuries and fatalities in rural road accidents.

کلیدواژه ها:

Wearing Seat belt use ، Drivers ، Rural areas ، Prediction ، Injury prevention