A new Road Safety campaign was launched on Friday to raise awareness of the wearing of seat belts, but on franceinfo, the vice-president of the League against road violence remains “skeptical” about its effectiveness and regrets that “very few campaigns” are evaluated.
“When we have a relaxation of the road safety policy, we have a relaxation of behavior”, explained Friday June 23 on franceinfo Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League against road violence. A new Road Safety campaign is launched on Friday to raise awareness of the wearing of seat belts, with this slogan, “With the belt, let’s stick to staying alive”.
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“We still observe far too many accidents where the wearing of seat belts was not observed”, confirms Pierre Lagache. However, he considers it necessary to tackle the “causes of serious accidents: speed, alcohol, drugs and increasingly distractors at the wheel”. This new campaign is “a good advertising exercise” And “creative”according to him, but it remains “septic” on its effectiveness. “To find out, you have to evaluate”but “very few campaigns are evaluated“, he regrets.
Why this relaxation according to you on the wearing of the safety belt?
We have a national policy that is not very vigorous. We have observed in recent months a series of setbacks both on the weakening of the license points on small speeding, on the technical control of motorized two-wheelers, on the shutdown of urban radars. We have a context of relaxation and we traditionally observe that, when we have a relaxation of the road safety policy, we have a relaxation of behavior.
It is important to remember the importance of the seat belt?
There is a subject, of course. There are still far too many accidents where the wearing of seat belts was not observed. It is a subject, but for all that, it is not a cause of accidents. It makes the consequences worse. We know the causes of serious accidents: speeding, alcohol, drugs and increasingly distractors at the wheel, in particular the use of the telephone. You have to wear the seat belt. We can clearly see that there is a relaxation in this area.
“The airbag doesn’t solve anything. The seat belt and the airbag are complementary. We absolutely have to get the message across.”
Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League against road violenceon franceinfo
However, what we have observed over the past ten years is road safety which, in terms of results, is not changing positively.
The seat belt considerably reduces mortality?
It is estimated that millions of lives have been saved thanks to this system which is not new. It was invented in the 1880s for New York taxis. It was actually set up 50 years ago in France. We have good hindsight which demonstrates the usefulness of the belt. There is no debate on that. On the other hand, we really have a laxity which undoubtedly has to ask questions about the educational continuum. There are undoubtedly things to be reaffirmed more strongly on the subject.
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What do you think of this campaign which uses the song “Stayin’ alive” by the Bee Gees and the dance steps of John Travolta. Does this seem effective to you?
To find out, you have to evaluate. We see that very, very few campaigns are evaluated in terms of road safety. It’s questioning. We can be skeptical. It is indeed a good publicity exercise. It’s a nice and interesting creative exercise. After efficiency, it’s something else. It is assessed. We don’t have the information to make a judgment on that. It seems important to me to evaluate the communication campaigns that are carried out.
Is the dummy that crosses the windshield more effective in allowing real awareness?
The reality of what is road violence through a shock marks the spirits. When you get into a rollover car, for example, you become aware of a number of things. When you observe crash tests as well. We always underestimate the impact of shocks. There is really a very important report on the issue of speed and the consequences for road safety.
“In town, we know that a collision at 50 kilometers with a pedestrian, the pedestrian has an 80% chance of being killed. At 30 km/h, it’s the opposite.”
Pierre Lagache, vice-president of the League against road violenceon franceinfo