The difference in day and night seat belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants was investigated by personal, environmental, and vehicle characteristics. In each of the 10 years reviewed, seat belt use among fatally injured occupants was lower at night (9 p.m.-3:59 a.m.) than during the day. On average, nighttime use was 18 percentage points lower than daytime belt use. Results indicated that groups with lower seat belt use both day and night were: males; younger occupants; pickup truck occupants; residents of secondary enforcement law States; occupants traveling in rural areas; occupants killed on local roads; occupants killed on weekends; drivers with crashes and violations on their records; drivers likely accountable in the crash; and drivers with high blood alcohol concentrations. Alcohol-impaired drivers comprised more than two-thirds of fatally injured drivers killed at night, and only 26% of these drivers were belted at night. The categories of fatally injured occupants who showed the greatest discrepancy in day and night seat belt use included: occupants 45 and older, those on interstate roads, car occupants, and drivers with clean records. (Author/publisher)
Abstract