Compatibility of Safety and Comfort in Vehicles

Abstract

Surveys were conducted with respondents from four different groups in three states in an effort to determine how people recognize common hazards involved in driving and riding in their vehicles. Some items are associated with both comfort and safety such as the head restraint and air bags. Unfortunately, use for comfort may often present safety hazards, as in not using seat belts with air bags. The survey examined respondents' descriptions of their behaviors regarding several items involving tradeoffs between safety and comfort. Some behaviors result from lack of knowledge about the hazards involved. In general, formal driver training did not produce differences in knowledge or putative behaviors. These results suggest the need for additional information to be provided via educational campaigns.