Narrative:

We were cruising at FL370 about 15 mi north of the lnk VOR. There was convective activity with occasional light chop. The fasten seat belt sign had been on for approximately 6 mins. While in VMC; encountered continuous moderate chop with occasional moderate turbulence. Despite the seat belt sign being on and a PA announcement from the flight attendants about staying in your seat with belts fastened; some passenger decided they still needed to be out of their seats for some reason. When we suddenly hit the moderate chop with occasional moderate turbulence; I made a PA for the flight attendants to immediately take a seat. (They were already seated.) the passenger that were out of their seats; suddenly realized that maybe it was a good idea for them to be seated; and immediately seated themselves in the aisle. The encounter lasted about 4 mins. ATC was informed about the turbulence; we requested a climb to FL390; and sent a PIREP to dispatch. At FL390; the ride improved to occasional light chop. There were no injuries to any of the passenger. This is being sent to highlight a situation that could have had bad results even though we as a crew did everything right. I've noticed an increasing trend that passenger are ignoring the fasten seat belt sign; flight attendant announcements; and the safety demonstration at the beginning of the flight; with regards to seat belt usage. They simply do what they want; when they want. Maybe we as a company need to do a better; more aggressive job of advocating safety before someone gets hurt; even though we as a flight crew do everything right.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 FO DISCUSSES PAX UNWILLINGNESS TO REMAIN SEATED WHEN A PA WAS MADE ANNOUNCING IMPENDING TURB AND THE SEAT BELT SIGN IS ON.

Narrative: WE WERE CRUISING AT FL370 ABOUT 15 MI N OF THE LNK VOR. THERE WAS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WITH OCCASIONAL LIGHT CHOP. THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN HAD BEEN ON FOR APPROX 6 MINS. WHILE IN VMC; ENCOUNTERED CONTINUOUS MODERATE CHOP WITH OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURB. DESPITE THE SEAT BELT SIGN BEING ON AND A PA ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FLT ATTENDANTS ABOUT STAYING IN YOUR SEAT WITH BELTS FASTENED; SOME PAX DECIDED THEY STILL NEEDED TO BE OUT OF THEIR SEATS FOR SOME REASON. WHEN WE SUDDENLY HIT THE MODERATE CHOP WITH OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURB; I MADE A PA FOR THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE A SEAT. (THEY WERE ALREADY SEATED.) THE PAX THAT WERE OUT OF THEIR SEATS; SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT MAYBE IT WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO BE SEATED; AND IMMEDIATELY SEATED THEMSELVES IN THE AISLE. THE ENCOUNTER LASTED ABOUT 4 MINS. ATC WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE TURB; WE REQUESTED A CLB TO FL390; AND SENT A PIREP TO DISPATCH. AT FL390; THE RIDE IMPROVED TO OCCASIONAL LIGHT CHOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY OF THE PAX. THIS IS BEING SENT TO HIGHLIGHT A SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE HAD BAD RESULTS EVEN THOUGH WE AS A CREW DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. I'VE NOTICED AN INCREASING TREND THAT PAX ARE IGNORING THE FASTEN SEAT BELT SIGN; FLT ATTENDANT ANNOUNCEMENTS; AND THE SAFETY DEMO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FLT; WITH REGARDS TO SEAT BELT USAGE. THEY SIMPLY DO WHAT THEY WANT; WHEN THEY WANT. MAYBE WE AS A COMPANY NEED TO DO A BETTER; MORE AGGRESSIVE JOB OF ADVOCATING SAFETY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT; EVEN THOUGH WE AS A FLT CREW DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.