In the year 2000 in the U.S., 4,698 teenagers 16-19 years died as the result of a motor vehicle crash; this included 2,686 drivers, 1,751 passengers, and 261 pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists. Teenage drivers have a higher crash risk than any other group in the U.S. Seat belts are known to mitigate the severity of injuries in the event of a crash. Yet, observational studies have found that seat belt use among teenagers is lower than among older age groups and that use among teenage passengers is lower than among teenage drivers. This paper examines teenage seat belt use rates in the U.S., including the factors associated with use and the differences in use rates across the 50 states. The information on seat belt use among teenagers is based on data extracted from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). The analyses examined seat belt use among passenger vehicle occupants who were fatally injured in crashes occurring from 1995-2000. The primary focus is teenage drivers 16-19 years of age.
Samenvatting