Together for Life: Increasing Seat Belt Use in Rural Utah

The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Highway Safety Office is engaged in a pilot project to address the significant disparities that exist between urban and rural rates of seat belt use among citizens of Utah.

The Together for Life Project seeks to improve rural traffic safety and reduce injuries and fatal car crashes in Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier and Tooele counties.

Together for Life

Wearing a seat belt is important and saves lives. Unfortunately, a leading risk factor for death and serious injury in Utah is not wearing a seat belt. Significant disparities exist between urban and rural rates of seat belt use among road users in Utah.1 Seat belts are used less frequently in rural areas of Utah than in urban areas.1

Rates of not using a seat belt are three-times higher in some rural areas compared to urban areas of the state.1 From the research we know that over the past 10 years, over 30% of crash deaths in Utah have involved unrestrained occupants.1 Further, unrestrained crash occupants were 40 times more likely to be killed than restrained crash occupants.1

While these statistics are staggering, there is hope. Utah residents share unifying values about seat belt use. They also share critical protective attitudes and beliefs. Survey results from a 2013 survey of Utah adults in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete counties and a 2016 survey of Utah adults in Cache, Carbon, Sevier and Tooele counties revealed that:

  • MOST adults strongly agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt. 2,3
  • MOST adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt. 2,3

Current efforts implemented in Utah’s more urban areas have been successful at achieving higher seat belt use. However, these efforts have not been effective in rural environments.

The Highway Safety Office has recognized the need for a different approach applicable to a rural setting to improve traffic safety. The Together for Life Project builds on the strengths and resources that exist in Utah’s rural communities. The Together for Life Project offers counties multiple “tools” to increase seat belt use. Each tool is intended to guide conversations about seat belt use and promote engagement on this issue. The tools are designed to achieve two
goals:

  1. Confront the seriousness of not wearing a seat belt; and
  2. Build hope that communities can work together to reduce risk and create positive change.

The Together for Life Project engages a variety of stakeholders including leaders from law enforcement, traffic safety, local government, education, and private business.

To learn about this project in your county, contact your community coordinator: See a list of Coordinators by County

References

  1. Utah Department of Public Safety, Highway Safety Office. (2015). Utah Crash Summaries. Salt Lake City, UT. Utah Department of Public Safety. Retrieved from: http://highwaysafety.utah.gov/Crash-Data/Utah-Crash-Summaries/
  2. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey of adults on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey of adults on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Toole Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

County Contacts

To learn about this project in your county, click the box with your county’s name below to view contact details.

Show AllbcstClick a letter above to see just counties beginning with that letter.

Additional Resources

Tools

Please refer to your specific county for a list of relevant tools:

Box Elder County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

 Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

 

Cache County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

Carbon County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

San Juan County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

Sanpete County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

Sevier County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).

Tooele County

A sample of county specific resources are available. To learn more about this project in your county, contact your county coordinator.

Community Building Tools

Community Building Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to connect community members and generate awareness around the shared and common values of caring, health, and safety, and to promote that fact that:

  • Most adults agree it is important to protect themselves by always wearing a seat belt.1
  • Most adults strongly agree they want people they care about to always wear a seat belt.1
  • Most always wear a seat belt.2

Adult Tools

Adult Video, Radio, and Print Media are intended to promote the fact that:

  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Law Enforcement Tools

The Law Enforcement Print Media are intended to promote three key actions among law enforcement agencies:

  • Increase seat belt use among officers
  • Promote consistent enforcement of seat belt laws, and
  • Increase advocacy for seat belt use

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

Workplace & Key Leader Tools

The Radio, Workplace Booklet, Print Media, and PowerPoint are intended to promote the facts that:

  • Workplaces should establish and enforce seat belt policies.
  • MOST drivers believe it is their responsibility to get others to wear a seat belt.1,3
  • MOST families have a rule about always wearing a seat belt.1,3

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

School/Student Tools

Student Print Media, PowerPoint, and  is intended to increase the number of students that would ask friends and family to always wear a seat belt.

The Together for Life Engagement Card can be used to engage individuals to increase seat belt use.

References

  1. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2013). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Box Elder, San Juan, and Sanpete Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1338).
  2. Perkins, MPH, Ron. (2015). Utah observational surveys on seat belt use.
  3. Center for Health and Safety Culture. (2016). Utah community survey on seat belt use in Cache, Carbon, Sevier, and Tooele Counties. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. (N=1831).