Development of a methodology for measuring improper seat belt use.

Seat belts are one of the most effective safety features available in motor vehicles today, but to be effective they must be used properly. This paper discusses how improper use of seat belts results in a reduction in their effectiveness. The result of a current study indicates that misuse of seat belts is relatively high. The data also indicate that measuring improper seat belt use is possible with both direct (roadside), and indirect (video tape recordings) observation techniques.