Abstract
Occupants of pickup trucks consistently have lower safety belt usage rates than occupants of automobiles, vans, or sport utility vehicles (SUVs). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2003 National Occupant Protection Use Survey, the observed safety belt use rate is 69% for occupants of pickups as compared to 83% for vans and SUVS, and 81% for passenger cars. Occupants of pickup trucks are at a higher risk for serious injury or death given their lower safety belt usage and higher ejection rates. This report discusses the Survey findings, and looks at some of the reasons given for both wearing and not wearing safety belts by drivers of pickup trucks.