Seat belt use in 2009 stood at 84 percent, a gain from 83 percent use in 2008. This result is from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) which is the only survey that provides 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. Seat belt use has been increasing steadily since 1994, accompanied by a steady decline in the percentage of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities during daytime. The 2009 survey also found the following: * Seat belt use for occupants travelling during weekends increased to 86 percent in 2009 (83% in 2008), which shows a significant annual increase. * Seat belt use continues to be higher in the States in which vehicle occupants can be pulled over solely for not using seat belts (“primary law” States) as compared with the States with a weaker enforcement law (“secondary law” States).
Samenvatting