Citation

Divjak M, Zabukovec V. Psiholoska Obzorja 2007; 16(1): 53-74.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Drustvo Psihologov Slovenije)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article reports on the evaluation of the safety intervention program called European Public Awareness Campaign on the Use of Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems (EUCHIRES). This program, designed to promote the use of seat belts and child safety seats, combined media campaigns and project work in a few chosen Slovenian kindergartens with preventive actions, including increased vigilance, of the police. The authors evaluated this program in three facets: the media campaign evaluation using a telephone poll; the investigation of changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported use of child safety seats (CSS) in children, teachers and parents; and an observational study that evaluated the actual seat belt and CSS wearing rates on the roads. The results demonstrated that the media campaign was effective in terms of reach, attractiveness, and recall of its message. Compared to the media program alone, the combined approach of the media program with project work in the kindergartens was more effective in terms of educating teachers and parents. The observational part of the study revealed an 8% increase in the number of properly restrained children younger than 12 years; the wearing rates of other groups of passengers did not change. The authors conclude by offering a critical evaluation of their evaluation model as well as recommendations for future interventions.