The use of seatbelts in Port Moresby 12 years after the seatbelt legislation in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the rate of seatbelt use by drivers and front-seat passengers in Port Moresby, 12 years after the seatbelt legislation in 1993. Before the legislation, the rate of seatbelt usage was only 13.3% for drivers and 11.4% for front-seat passengers. Use of seatbelts was assessed by observers at the main city roundabout. 50% of male drivers, 78% of female drivers, 49% of Papua New Guinean drivers and 69% of expatriate drivers wore seatbelts. Among the young drivers (teenagers aged < 20 years) 55% wore seatbelts. Of the front-seat passengers, 37% of males and 58% of females wore seatbelts. Female drivers and female front-seat passengers were more likely to wear seatbelts than males (OR 2.55 [95% CI 1.53-4.23] and 2.34 [95% CI 1.32-4.14]). The front-seat passengers were more likely to be wearing seatbelts if the drivers wore theirs (OR 2.70 [95% CI 1.60-4.55]). Proportionately more drivers and front-seat passengers were wearing seatbelts than during the pre-legislation period, but more seatbelt education and awareness is needed because of the increasing number of road traffic accidents in Papua New Guinea.