Seatbelt use among motorcoach passengers remains extremely low despite federal requirements for lap and shoulder belts on new vehicles. Prior research indicates that verbal safety announcements and visible promotional messaging can improve awareness and compliance, yet these practices have not been consistently adopted across the motorcoach industry. This project addresses the gap between known effective strategies and real-world implementation.
The research will develop, test, and refine targeted training and promotional materials designed for motorcoach drivers, dispatchers, terminal managers, and regulatory agencies. Activities include the creation of instructional podcasts, educational brochures, and guidance documents outlining effective promotional practices and regulatory roles. The effectiveness of these interventions will be evaluated using surveys and implementation metrics. Results will support scalable best practices that can be adopted nationwide to improve motorcoach passenger safety.