This report presents the results of a review by the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Assistant Inspector General for Auditing of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) progress in implementing strategies to increase the use of seat belts. The audit was conducted at the request of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The Committee was concerned that national seat belt use rates have remained relatively constant, and that NHTSA might not achieve DOT's goal of 85% seat belt usage by the year 2000 and 90% by the year 2005. The objectives of this audit were to: (1) assess NHTSA's efforts to increase seat belt use rates; (2) evaluate NHTSA's processes for establishing performance goals and measures; (3) determine how NHTSA allocates Occupant Protection Program funds and grants to states and other partnerships; and (4) identify and evaluate the technical assistance NHTSA provides to state and local governments to improve seat belt use rates. Briefly, results of the review indicate that over time, NHTSA and the States have been effective in increasing seat belt use, as the national seat belt use rate has increased from 14% in 1984 to 73% in 2001. However, over the last 8 years, the annual rate of increase in seat belt use has slowed to a relatively constant 1 percentage point. Unless additional States enact and enforce primary enforcement laws, which are the most effective means of increasing seat belt use, there is no credible basis to forecast increases in seat belt use in excess of the current trend.
Abstract