In June 2006, seat belt use in the U.S. stands at 81 percent, statistically unchanged from the previous year’s use rate of 82 percent. This result is from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only probabilitybased observed data on seat belt use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2006 survey also found the following: • Use in the West has achieved the 90 percent milestone, increasing from 85 percent in 2005. This increase was statistically significant. • Use rates continue to be higher where laws are stronger. States in which motorists can be stopped solely for belt nonuse had a combined use rate of 85 percent in 2006, compared to 74 percent in other States. (Author/publisher)
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