Seat belts are the single most effective motor vehicle occupant safety device yet developed for older children and adults. Seat belt use in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with roughly 70% compliance nationwide. And California's rate of over 91% is among the best in the country. But because the state's population is so large, any percentage increase in use translates into a significant reduction in deaths and injuries. This article looks at elements of seat belt compliance programs that have worked, with the intent of identifying ways to make compliance even higher. Primary seat belt enforcement laws are critical because they give officers the ability to cite drivers on the grounds of seat belt compliance alone. Yet fewer than half the states, 19, have such laws. It also discusses the way seat belt use is measured and how risks are measured. A history of seat belts is also included.
Abstract