Seat belt use in the United States for occupants under 70 years of age increased in 2008. Seat belt use for occupants ages 8-15 stood at 83 percent in 2008 (up from 82% in 2007), at 80 percent for occupants ages 16-24 (up from 77% in 2007) and at 84 percent for occupants ages 25-69 (up from 83% in 2007). While not statistically significant, these increases are a positive sign that more people are buckling up. Seat belt use among occupants age 70 and older decreased from 88 percent in 2007 to 84 percent in 2008, a statistically significant result. These results are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only nationwide probability-based 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. (Author/publisher)
Abstract