Motor vehicle trauma and safety belt use in the context of public health priorities.

Public health priorities arise from the convergence of a disease threat, public awareness of the threat, demand for proper protection from the threat, and a body of scientific literature to support the effectiveness of prevention/protection measures. With the success in combating infectious and some chronic diseases, public health is beginning to turn next to the challenge of a "new" pandemic, injury, especially to the prevention of motor vehicle trauma. Programs that promote the use of safety belts, child restraints, and automatic protection in the context of public health priorities offer the greatest hope for reducing the magnitude of the motor vehicle trauma problem.