Gender, Age, and Personality Types as Predictors of Motor Drivers’ Attitude to Seatbelt Use in Enugu State

Safety belts are installed in vehicles to protect the lives of people who use such vehicles. For such belts to actually save lives and prevent socio-economic losses, vehicle users must wear them. In Nigeria, the national policy (as established in the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act 2007) on the use of seatbelts in motorized vehicles makes it mandatory for motorists and front-seat passengers to fasten their seatbelts while the vehicle is in motion. This law was introduced to reduce fatalities from road crashes. Incidentally, many people do not wear their belts when boarding vehicles. This problem has been attributed to factors such as motorists’ attitudes towards seatbelt usage and poor enforcement of road safety laws. This study examined gender, age, and personality types as predictors of attitude to seatbelt use among motor drivers in Nsukka (a city in Enugu State, Nigeria). Two hundred and two (202) private and commercial drivers participated in the study. Among the participants were male and female licensed drivers who had driven for at least two years. The average age of the drivers, who ranged in age from 21 to 50, was 38.5. The instruments used for data collection were the Big Five Personality Inventory-10 (BFI-10) and Attitude to Seat Belt Use Scale. Results showed that gender ( β =. 32, t = 4.74, p <.000), age ( β = . 66, t = 13.39, p < .000), age ( β =. 66, t = 13.39, p <.000), and conscientiousness personality trait ( β = .15, t = 2.96, p < .001) were significant in positively predicting attitude to seatbelt usage. That is, findings identified gender, age, and conscientiousness as significant predictors of attitude toward seatbelt use among vehicle drivers. Thus, the results of this study have implications for road safety campaigns. Such campaigns could include scenarios illustrating the consequences of failure to wear seatbelts, particularly among men and boys who died due to failure to wear seatbelts. Additionally, the road safety campaigns should include measures aimed at encouraging the development of a positive attitude towards the use of seatbelts among drivers. This calls on seatbelt use campaign organizers, while educating the public, to target men and youths and, at the same time, tailor their programmes to individuals who exhibit extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, and openness to experience personality dimensions, to improve drivers' attitudes towards seatbelt use.