Results of a direct observation survey of safety belt use in Michigan for fall of 1996 are reported. In the present survey, 8,907 occupants travelling in four vehicle types (passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks) were surveyed between August 29 and September 30, 1996. Belt use was estimated separately for each vehicle type. Within each vehicle type, belt use by gender, age, road type, day of week, and time of day was estimated. Overall belt use for passenger cars was 70.8 percent, for sport-utility vehicles was 71.6 percent, for vans/minivans was 67.6 percent, and for pickup trucks was 47.7 percent. For all vehicles types, belt use was higher for females than for males, and was generally higher for the zero-to-three-year-old age group than for any other age group. The 16-to-29-year-old age group showed the lowest belt use. In general, belt use was highest during morning rush hour and at interstate exit ramps. Belt use did not vary systematically by day of week or weather conditions. (Author/publisher)
Abstract