In the United States, more than 80 percent of drivers and passengers wear seatbelts while driving, but in China, only between 20 and 30 percent of drivers and passengers wear their car seatbelts. Guangzhou had 9,930 traffic accidents in the 2006 (George Institute, 2007). China accounts for around 15% of the world’s total number of deaths from traffic accidents every year (Caixiong, 2005). The one-year project that was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) has jointly been launched by the George Institute for International Health (GIIH), at the University of Sydney in Australia, and various Chinese government departments. The departments include the Ministry of Public Security (MOPS), the Ministry of Health (MOH and the Traffic Command and Control Centre (TCCC), under the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Public Security (GMBOPS: George Institute, 2007).
The adoption of seatbelt use in China can be explained using the Stage Theory of Organizational Change (STOOC). Organizational change is about the process of changing an organization’s strategies, processes, procedures, technologies, and culture, as well as the effect of such changes on the organization. While each stage follows a specific form of strategies, which include an implementational and sustainable approach. According to health behavior and health education, the University of Pennsylvania (n.d.), there are four stages of theory of organizational change that can explain the use and issue of seatbelts in China. These four detailed stages include, awareness of a problem of the seatbelt in China; decision to make recommendations to adopt the use of seatbelt amongst China population. Also, implementation plan is another key approach, which may include restructuring any laws or innovations to accommodate the change process. Lastly, adoption strategy, which means institutionalizing the adoption of the change to become part of the community awareness that necessitate the use of a seatbelt.
The injury-related seatbelt issue in China is a hot switch, and complex to comprehend. Many Chinese laws and regulations intended the best for the issue of seatbelt. However, and in practice, such measures may end up fading. To ensure smooth implementation of the law, there must be supervision and punishment or monitoring and consequences. Such a large number of families possessing private cars in China and the traffic conditions in most cities, it is nearly impossible to examine whether every car is acting under the regulations. Therefore, to what extent the new law or any law will be effective? This question remains in unanswered. This includes not only adults wearing seatbelts but children safety practices, in making sure car seats are install (Shigong, 2014). Alattar (2011) in his article, discussed a dissertation study, which presented, tested, and explained the ability of two perspectives to guide productive efforts for understanding and improving how people, especially adolescents and young adults, manage significant daily risks; and with special attention on the illustrative case of car seatbelt use. The conclusions of Alattar (2011) dissertation provided various implications for intervention approach that aimed at improving personal risk management (e.g., driver’s education and sexual education).
Alattar, L. (2011). Understanding and improving personal risk management: New perspectives on personal policy decisions and an illustration—the case of seatbelts. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/895977752?accountid=14872
Caixiong, Z. (2005, Apr 27). The project aimed at promoting seatbelt use. China Daily. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/257839244?accountid=14872
George Institute. (2007). Seat Belt Intervention Shows Many Lives Can Be Saved On China’s Roads. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070422101816.htm>.
Health Behavior and Health Education, the University of Pennsylvania (n.d.). Stage Theory of Organizational Change. Retrieved from http://www.med.upenn.edu/hbhe4/part4-ch15-stage-theory-of-organizational-change.shtml
Shigong, L. (2014). Caring More About Child Safety. Retrieved from http://www.bjreview.com.cn/forum/txt/2014-02/10/content_594938.htm
