Observations of seat belt use and interviews of drivers were made prior to the implementation of the seat belt law in Illinois and for 10 months thereafter in Urbana- Champaign. Use of seat belts increased from about 12% prior to the law to about 40% in the first month (July 1985) and 48% in the next three months. By December, 1985 seat belt use had dropped to about 30% and remained there for the next 4 months. Similar trends were found in statewide surveys.
Abstract