HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-05-04; Traffic Safety Commission; ; Information item onlyCI1Y OF CARLSBAD
TRAFFIC SAFE1Y COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
COMMISSION MEETING OF: May 4, 1992
LOCATION: N.A.
ITEM NO. 6E
INITIATED BY: Transportation Division
REQUESTED ACTION: Information item only.
BACKGROUND:
DATA:
For this year the week of May 18-25, 1992 has been designated as "Buckle Up
America! Week." • The importance of the using safety belts every time a motor
vehicle trip is made cannot be underestimated. "Buckle Up America! Week" is a
national campaign to highlight the importance of safety belts, child safety seats and
air bags and the lifesaving potential of using these devices.
In 1989, President Bush made the safety of occupants in motor vehicles a national
priority. He directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the
Department of Transportation to increase safety belt use in the United States from
the national average of 49 percent to 70 percent by 1992.
The campaign initiated in 1989 has been successful in raising the percentage of safety
belt usage. By the end of 1991, a population-weighted average of State usage rate .
surveys showed a national usage rate of 59 percent. However, this percentage is
below the President's goal of 70 percent safety belt usage by 1992.
One of the most effective ways to reduce death and injury to people involved in
motor vehicle crashes is to use lap and shoulder belts. When used, numerous
research studies indicate that the risk of fatal and serious injury to front seat
passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 to 50 percent.
The most rapid increases in safety belt usage occurs from blitz enforcement. This
type of enforcement concentrates heavily on safety belt and child safety seat usage.
An integrated enforcement effort, combining safety belt and safety seat enforcement
with other patrol activities, appears to be one of the most cost effective methods to
produce more sustained usage rates.
TRAFFIC SAFE1Y COMMISSION
Staff Report
COMMISSION MEETING OF: May 4, 1992
(Continued)
Item NO. _filL_
It is important for public information to focus attention on enforcement efforts.
However, public information alone will not increase usage. This year, throughout the
United States, more emphasis will be placed on public information and the
enforcement effort. If successful, the goal of 70 percent usage by the end of 1992 can
be achieved.
Additional information prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) is attached. This material provides information on child
passenger safety, occupant protection, speed facts, alcohol impaired driving facts and
occupant protection trends in nineteen (19) United States cities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Information item only.
NECESSARY CI1Y COUNCIL ACTION:
It is tentatively scheduled for the May 12, 1992 City Council meeting that Mayor
Lewis will read a proclamation designating "Buckle Up America! Week" in Carlsbad.
KEY PROV: :ONS OF SAFETY B: ,TUSELAWS
Nqye,ber 1991
EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT FINE SEATS VEHICLES and COVERAGE BY LAW LATEST USAGE RATE(%)
ALABAMA
ALASKA
AMER . SAMOA
ARI ZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DIST. OF COL.
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
GUAM
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
LOUISIANA
MARIANA ISL
MARYLAND
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEVADA
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
07/18/91
09/ 12/90 01 /01/89
01 /01/91
07 /15 /91
01 /01/86
07 /07 /87
01/01/86
01/01/92
12/12/85
07 /01 /86
09/01 /8B
l l /20/86
12/16/85
07/01/86
07 /01 /85
07/01/87
07/01/86
07 /01/86
07/01/86
04/20/90
07/01/86
07/01/85
08/01/86
03/20/90
09/28/85
10/01/87
07/01/87
03/01/85
01/01/86
NEW YORK 12/01/84
N0RTH CAROLINA 10/01/85
OHIO 05/06/86
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
02/01/87
12/06/90
11 /23/87
PUERTO RICO 01/19/75
RHODE ISLAND 06/18/91 SOUTH CAROL INA 07/01/89
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VIRGIN ISL
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WI SCONSIN
WYOMING
•
04/21 /86
09/01/85
04/28/86
10/01/91
01 /01/88
06/11 /86
12/01 /87
06/08/89
Reported October 1991
Secondary 25
Secondary 15
Primary 25
Secondary 10
Secondary 25
Secondary 22
Secondary 10
Primary 37
Secondary 20
Secondary 15
Secondary 20
Secondary 15
Primary 70
Primary 20
Secondary 5
Secondary 25
Secondary 25
Primary 10
Secondary 10
Secondary 25
Primary 25
Secondary 25
Secondary 25
Secondary 25
Primary No
Secondary 10
Secondary 20
Secondary 25
Secondary 20
Primary 25
Primary 50
Primary 25
Secondary 20
Secondary l 0
Primary 50
Secondary l 0
Primary 10
Secondary No Secondary 10
Secondary 25
Primary 25
Secondary 10
Primary 50
Secondary 25
Secondary 25
Primary 10
Secondary No
Front
All
All
Front
Front
All
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
All
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
All
Passenger car, MY>'65
Motor vehicle. Over age 16 .
Passenger car, truck, van .
Passenger car, van, MY>'72 .
Passenger car, truck, van .
Passenger car, van, small truck.
Passenger car, van , taxi, ambul,ance , RV , small t ruck .
Passenger car, van, truck, van .
Passenger car.
Vehicle seating 8 or less people.
Motor vehicle, pick up truck.
Passenger car to carry under 10 people.
Passenger car, truck, van.
Vehicle registered in State.
Motor Vehicle under 8K lbs.
Motor vehicle to carry under 10 people, RV.
Passenger car, bus, school bus.
Passenger car, van, truck lOK lbs. or less.
Passenger car, van.
Passenger car, van, truck under 6K lbs.
Passengar car, truck.
Passenger and multi-purpose vehicle , pick-up truck .
Motor vehicle.
Passenger car, pick up truck, van, RV.
Passenger car, van .
Passenger car to carry under 10 people .
Motor vehicle.
All Passenger car under 6K lbs.
Front Passenger car.
Front Motor vehicle under lOK lbs. Over age 10.
Front
Front
Front
Front
All
Front
Passenger car. Over age 9.
Passenger car to carry under 10 people.
Passenger and commercial car, van, tractor, truck.
Passenger car, van, pickup truck.
Passenger car.
Passenger car, truck, motor home.
Front Passenger car. Over age 4.
All Passenger car. Over 12. Front Passenger car, truck , van, RV, taxi.
Front
Front
Front
Front
Front
All
All
Front
Vehicle under 8.5K lbs.
Passenger car, van, truck under 1.5K lbs.
Motor vehicle.
Passenger car.
Motor vehicle.
Passenger and multi-purpose vehicle, bus, truck.
Motor vehicle.
Passenger car, van, pickup truck.
Toul Use laws: 41 States plus D.C .. Puerto R;co. and the TerrHor;es.
U.S . Department ot Tran•portation, Wa•bington, DC 20590
NAT I ONAL BIQBWAT TRAFFIC SAFZTT ADMINISTRATION
Regional Operation• (202) 366-2672
53
66
62
65
52 71
51
61
42
49
60
54
92
85
45
51
52
68
64
37
95
72
64
52
32
64
67
68
58 67
68
60
50
37
70
60
71
28
60
51
68
45
34
58
69
58
66
•
CHILD PA~ ENGER PROTECTIOJ LAWS
Novellber 1991
RESTUilfT
EFFECTM REQUIRDENT SArETY SEAT
STATE DATE AGE REQUIRED *Y SlBSTIM"E SAFETY BELTS
Al abama
Alas ka
Ari zona 1
Arkans as
Californi a
Co l orado
Con nect icu t
De l aware1
Di st . of Columb i a
Florida
Geo rgi a
Hawa ii
Idaho 1
Ill ino i s
I nd iana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentuck y1
Lou i siana
Ha i ne
Mary land
Massach usetts
Mich igan
Minneso ta
Miss iss ipp i
Hi ssouri
Hontana1
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mex ico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oh io
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsyl vania
Puert o Ri co
Rhode Island
South Carol ina
South Da kota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Was hi ngton1
West Virgini a
Wiscons i n
Wyoming
7/82
6/85
8/83
8/83
1/83
1/84
5/82
6/82
7/83
7/83
7/84
7/83
1/85
7/83
1/84
1/85
1/82
7/82
9/84
9/83
1/84
1/82
4/82
8/83
7/83
1/84
1/84
8/83
7/83
7/83
4/83
6/83
4/82
7/82
1/84
3/83
11 /83
1/84
1/84
1/89
7/80
7/83
7/84
1178
10/84
7/84
7/84
1/83
1/84
7/81
11/82
4/85
Und er 6
Under 16
Th ru 4 ( 2 )
Und er 5
Und er 4( 2 >
Und er 4C 2 >
Und er 4
Und er 4
Under 6
Under 6
Under 5
Under 4
Under 4(2 )
Under 6
Und er 5
Und er 6
Und er 15
Und er 40"
Und er 5
Under 6
Under 4
Thru 4 ( 2 >
Under 3
Under 4( 2 >
Under 4( 2 >
Under 4
Under 4
Under 3
Under 4
Under 3
Under 3
Under 4(2 )
Under 4
Under 3
Under 3
Under 4( 4 >
Under 40"
Under 5
Und er 19 Thru 4
Und er 10 ( 2 > Under 4
Thru 12 Under 5
Thru 15 Thru 4
Under 1• Under 4
Under 2 Under 2
Under 4 Unde· 4
Under 4 ( 2 > Under 2
Under 5 ( 2 > Under 4 ( 2 >
Under 5 Under 5
Under 12
Under 5
Under 11
Under 10
Under 6
Thru 10
Under 4 ( 2 >
Under 5
Under 16
Under 4
Under 4
Thru 12
Under 6
Under 5
Und er 4
Und er 4
Und er 6'
Thru lE
Und er 4
Und er 5
Under 9
Under 4
Under 3 U >
Under 5
Under 5
Under 5
Under 4
Under 3
Under 3
Under 4 ( 2 >
Under 4
Under 1
Under 4
Under 4
Thru 3
Under 4
Under 2
Under 4
Under 2
Under 2
Under 5
Under 3
Under 1
Under 3
Under 2
Under 3C 2 >
Either 4 or 5
4 thru 15
No
Between 3 & 5
No
No
Between & 4 in rear seat
No
Betwun 3 & 6
Between 4 & 6
Between 3 & 5
Between 3 & 4
No
Between 4 & 6
Between 3 & 5
Between 3 & 6
Between 4 & 13 i n front seat
No
Between 3 & 5 in rear seat
Between 1 & 4 if not in parent's vehicle
Between 3 & 10
Under 5
1 thru 4 in rear seat
4 thru 10 in rear seat
No ,.
Under 4 in rear seat
Between 2 & 4
No
Under 5 in rear seat
Under 5 thru 12
Between 1 1/2 & 5 in rear seat
Between 1 & 5 in rear seat
Between 4 & 10 in rear seat
Between 3 & 6
3 thru 10
Between 1 & 4 if not in parent's vehicle
Under 4 in rear, 4-5 in front or rear
Betwten 1 & 5
Between 1 & 4 in rear seat
Over 40 pounds
No
Between 1 & 6 in rear seat
Between 2 & 5
No
Between 2 & 4
Between 2 & 8
Between 1 & 5 in rear seat
Between 3 & 4 or over 40 pounds
Between 1 & 5
Betwten 3 & 5
Between 2 & 4
No
PEMALW
$10
$50 , 2 pts.
$50
$10-$25
$100
$25
$25-$100
$25
$25
$15
$150 , 3pts.
$100 maximum
$100 muimum
$25-$50
$50-$500
$10
$10
$50
$25-$50
S2S-$50
$25-$50
$25
$10
$25
$25
$25
$10-$25
$25
$35-$100
$500 maximum
$10-$25
$50
$100 mwmum
$25
$20
$10
$25 maximum
$50 muimum
$25
$10
$10
$25
$20
$25-$50
$25-$50
$20
$25
$25
$30
$10-$20
$10-$200
$25
1 Law applies only to parents and ltgal guardians. <1 >or less than 40 pounds. 1Host States waive fines
upon proof of safety seat acqu i sition.
o .s. Departaent of Traneportation, •••hin9ton, DC 20510
•ATIO.AL ■IQ ■WAT Ta&rric SAr ■TT ADNI.IITaA!IO ■
aa9ional Operation·• (202) ,,,-2,12
FACTS AND RESOURCES
Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheet
Laws
• All 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam have child passenger safety laws , as compared to
1979, when only Tennessee had such a law.
• Safety belt use laws for the general public are in effect in 41 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and
Guam.
Effectiveness
When used correctly, child passenger safety seats are:
• 71 percent effective in preventing fatalities.
• 67 percent effective in reducing the need for hospitalization.
• 50 percent effective in preventing minor injuries.
Injuries Prevented and Uves Saved
• Approximately 222 children, age four and under, were saved in 1990 by child passenger safety
restraints.
• An estimated 1,546 children, age four and under, were saved from 1982 through 1990 as a result
of child restraint use.
• If child safety seats were used by all young children in motor vehicles, 53,000 injuries could be
prevented and 500 lives saved every year".
Correct Use of Safety Seats
To be effective, a child passenger safety seat must be used correctly. The NHTSA 19-Cities Survey
conducted in 1990 indicates that about one on four safety seats is seriously misused. Other more detailed
investigations have concluded that as many as 80 percent to 92 percent of child seats may be misused to
some extent.
Some of the most common and highly dangerous misuse errors involve:
• Infant in safety seat facing the front of the vehicle, instead of the rear.
• Child not secured by the safety seat harness, but simply sitting loose in the safety seat.
• Safety seat not secured by the safety belt in vehicle, but simply sitting loose on the vehicle seat.
• Use of automatic belt system without regard to vehicle manufacturer's instructions.
• Rear-facing seat used in air bag-equipped seating position.
1992 n7o'fo by '92 n Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
FACTS AND RESOURCES
Helpful Hints
• Adults cannot hold onto a child, even in a minor crash. The child is torn from the adult's arms -
even if the adult is buckled up. An unbelted adult can crush the child against the dashboard
because of the force of the crash. This can complicate or further contribute to the child's
injuries.
• Read the instructions that come with the seat carefully, befo re installing it. Incorrect installation
or misuse will substantially reduce protection.
• Safety seats must always be anchored to the vehicle seat with the lap belt exactly as specified by
the manufacturer. Read the vehicle owner's manual for detailed instructions on correct
installation of child safety seats in your vehicle.
• Never use plastic feeder stands, car beds , pillows or cushions that are not certified for use in
cars. Certified seats have a label stating that they meet Federal safety standards.
• The safest place for a child is the rear seat of a car, correctly buckled into a child safety seat.
• Not all models of seats fit all models of motor vehicles. Shop for one that is easy for you to
install and use. Try your child in it and then try the seat in your car. Buy only the type of seat
that you will use.
• Do not install a child safety seat in a seating position that has automatic safety belts, unless the
vehicle owner's manual provides specific instructions on how to do so .
• Shoulder-only automatic belts are designed to protect adults. In a car equipped with shoulder-
only automatic belts in the front, older children should sit in the rear and use a lap/shoulder belt
or lap belt. Some cars with automatic belts also allow for manual lap belt installation (check the
vehicle owner's manual).
• Air bags do not take the place of child safety seats or safety belts . Most auto manufacturers and
safety researchers warn that infant rear-facing child safety seats should not be used in seating
positions equipped with air bags. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual before installing a child
safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger-side air bag.
• A child safety seat that has once protected a child in a crash should be replaced. Some insurance
companies will reimburse for this cost.
• Call NHTSA's toll-free Hotline at 1/800/424-9393 (in Washington, D.C., call 202/366-0123) to
check for recalls or other information on making certain that you are using the safety seat
correctly.
1992 "70% by '92" Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
Occupant Protection Facts
Safety Belt Use laws
FACTS AND RESOURCES
DOT's July, 1984 rulemaking on occupant protection began a wave of legislative action that resulted in
the enactment of safety belt use laws in many states. Currently, 41 states and the District of Columbia
have belt laws.
In keeping with the President's mandate, the goal of these laws is to promote belt use and thereby reduce
deaths and injuries in motor vehicle crashes. This fact sheet presents information on how safety belt use
laws have improved the safety of motorists.
• Numerous research studies indicate that, when used, lap/ shoulder safety belts reduce the risk of
fatal and serious injury to front seat passengers by 45 to 50 percent. Air bags with lap/shoulder
belts reduce the risk of fatal or serious occupant injury by 55 to 60 percent.
• Currently, reported safety belt use in states with use laws ranges from 85 percent to 28 percent.
Use rates vary from state to state, reflecting such factors as public attitudes, enforcement
practices, legal provisions, and public information and education programs.
• The implementation of belt use laws has been estimated to reduce fatalities by seven percent.
Safety Belt Use
NHTSA measures national belt use by conducting observational survey in 19 cities. The data from these
surveys indicate that belt use has increased from 14 percent in 1983 to 54 percent in 1990.
• Among cities without belt laws in effect in this survey, belt use was 36 percent in 1990.
• Among cities with belt laws in effect in this survey, belt use was 54 percent in 1990.
Safety Belt and Belt law Bene.fits
• Among front-seat passenger vehicle occupants over four years old, safety belts saved about 4,800
lives in 1990 -3,896 associated with belt use laws .
• Among front-seat passenger vehicle occupants over four years old, safety belts prevented about
125,000 moderate to critical injuries in 1990 -101,500 as a result of belt use laws.
• From 1983 through 1990, an estimated 24,886 lives were saved by safety belts. -18,087 of which
were associated with belt use laws.
• During the same seven years, belts prevented an estimated 648,100 moderate to critical injuries,
471 ,100 of which were associated with belt use laws.
• At the current use level in belt law states (54 percent), belts would have saved 5,765 lives
national ly if all states had belt laws in 1990.
1992 "70% by '92" Safety Bell Program Idea Sampler
FACTS AND RESOURCES
Speed Fact Sheet
• Speed is the most prominent factor governing the fundamental relationships among all
the physical forces involved in crashes, including motorist reaction time and crash
severity.
• From current data, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
estimates that the percent of vehicles exceeding 65 mph on rural interstate highways has
increased from 23 percent in 1986 to 45 percent in 1989. In the same time period, the
percent of vehicles exceeding 75 mph increased from an estimated 6 percent to 20
percent.
• Speed increases the distance a vehicle travels during the "fixed period of time that it
takes for the driver to react to a perceived danger.
• Speed increases the total stopping distance necessary to halt a vehicle. The Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 105 requires that a car stop within 383 feet
from 80 mph , 172 feet from 55 mph , and 70 feet from 35 mph.
• One-third of all fatal crashes are related to speed.
• Speed-related fatal crashes most often involve only a single vehicle.
• Speed is a frequently occurring driver-error-related cause contributing to crashes .
• Crash severity increases disproportionately with speed at impact. The chances of death
or serious injury double for every 10 mph of increased vehicle speed .
• The safety benefits of occupant protection (safety belts/child safety seats/air bags)
diminish in a crash as speeds increase.
• Excessive speed was noted for approximately 30 percent of unrestrained driers in fatal
crashes.
• The energy of impact delivered to the driver and passengers in a collision is proportional
to the square of the speed. If a driver of a car increases the speed from 20 mph to 80
mph, the speed goes up by a factor of four and the energy of the impact delivered in a
collision goes up by a factor of 16 (4-squared) in these crashes.
• Police investigating fatal crashes report that unsafe practices (speeding, following too
closely, improper lane use, unsafe passing and reckless operation) account for more than
one-third of the total at-fault, driver-related factors in these crashes.
• Of all drivers involved in speed-related fatal crashes in 1989, about 56 percent were
under the influence of alcohol.
• Higher speeds result in more severe crashes, which can result in more disabling injuries.
• The total societal cost of speed-related crashes is more than $10 billion annually.
1992 "70% by '92" Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
FACTS AND RESOURCES
Alcohol Impaired Driving Fact Sheet
The numbers tell the story. Drinking is a factor in approximately half of all fatal motor vehicle
crashes. Even blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .05, which is well below the .10 standard
for intoxication in most states, affect driver response times, vision and judgement.
The Severity of the Problem
• The odds indicate that about two on every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-
related crash at some time in their lives.
• From 1982 through 1990, over 210,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes. That is
an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 22 minutes.
• For every age between five and thirty-four, traffic crashes are the greatest single cause
of death. More than half of these fatalities are alcohol-related.
• Drinking is a factor in 17 percent of serious injury crashes and in four percent of all
property damage crashes.
Drinking and Driving Statistics From A Single Year -1990
• Almost 50 percent of the year's 44,529 traffic fatalities died in alcohol-related crashes.
• Thirty-eight percent of all the drivers who were fatally injured in 1990 were driving
while intoxicated.
• In 1990, drinking was a factor in approximately 19,660 fatal crashes, 228,000 injury
crashes and 220,000 property damage crashes.
1992 n70% by '92n Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
FACTS AND RESOURCES
Occupant Fatalities for the First Six Months of 1991
(includes all vehicles, excluding motorcycles)
STATE TOTAL U'NRESTl\AJNID RESTllAJ.',ED l':1110,'OWS
AL 372 29'2 so JO
AX 14 8 6 0
AZ 241 161 47 33
AR 250 202 29 19
CA 1087 652 257 I 78
co 194 151 40 J
CT S2 I 7 8 27
DE 4S 38 7 0
DC 19 13 I s
Fl 1149 600 22S 24
GA S67 4.01 1S 91
HI 20 II 8 I
ID 85 69 14 2
IL S09 2:6 107 176
[N 367 268 7S 24
IA 171 103 41 27
KS 134 93 20 21
KY )63 311 46 6
LA 16' l lS 21 ,8
ME 47 39 7 I
MD 2()j 120 S9 ,6
MA 171 97 10 6'
Ml 397 236 124 J7
MN 202 134 44 ,4
MS 222 ,01 18 )
MO 378 233 84 61
MT 71 so 20 I
NE 106 69 II 26
NV s, 39 13 . 2
NH 49 JI II 7
NJ 240 142 n 26
NM 136 103 31 2
NY 490 221 114 ISS
NC 499 in 142 80
ND 29 29 0 0
OH 323 238 n 8
OK 267 221 46 0
OR 166 80 69 17
PA 499 310 99 90
Rl 17 14 3 0
SC 3S2 226 l08 18
SD S4 44 s s
TN 14 )2 2 0
TX 1030 7()j 297 28
UT 84 61 21 2
VT 27 6 I 20
VA 332 220 86 26
WA 249 143 74 32
WV 151 125 18 8
WI 306 183 96 27
WY 34 25 7 2
1992 -"70% by '92" Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
OCCUPANT PROTECTION
TRENDS
IN 19 CITIES
November 1991
l"'ACTS AND RESOURCES
For the past several years the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has
contracted for periodic observational studies of safety belt, child safety seat and motorcycle
helmet use in 19 metropolitan areas _throughout the United States. Observation of safety
belt and motorcycle helmet use is undertaken at 30 controlled intersections in each city and
observation of infant and toddler use of restraint devices is performed at 3 shopping centers
in each city.
During this year there will be four quarterly reports. Information on child safety scat use is
available in this report and was available in the first quarter report. The information in
each of the reports will generally be cumulative for 1991. The reports will be available in
May, August, November and February. A comprehensive Annual Report is produced each
year and is available September of the following year.
This quarterly report describes trends in the use of occupant protection devices in the 19
cities since 1983 and trends in the use of automatic safety belt systems since 1987.
Observers obtained the current figures ~wing the months of January through September
1991.
0...0 Use of Safety Bek System,
Figure 1 shOWI trends in observed driver safety belt use. The use rates for cities with and
without belt use laws are also shown. Based on the observation of 169,836 drivers, safety
belt use during the first three quarters of 1991 increased 2 percentage points to 51 percent
when compared with 1990. Safety belt use in the 17 cities under belt use laws was SS
percent and belt use in cities not under belt use laws was 35 percent. Table 1 contains
driver safety belt use by city for 1991. Compared to use rates observed in the second
quarter, safety belt use in the third quarter of 1991 was up three percentage points to
54 percent.
1992 "70% by '92" Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
.:ACTS AND RESOURCES
100
p • ao
r
C eo e
n
t 40
u
s 20
e
0
1983 1984 1988 1988 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Year
-Total UH -+-CltlH w/o IUL'I -♦-CltlH w/ IUL'a
FIGURE 1 • DRIVER SAFETY BELT use TRENDS
e~c~at
TABLE 1 • DRIVER ~ .w .Q2 .03 ~ Iclal
SAFETY BELT USE Atlanta 42 46 48 46 RATES Baltimore 55 59 64 59 Birmingham ~1 *37 45 38 Boston ~7 *31 *39 35 Chicago 38 30 41 34 DaJlas 84 72 76 71 Fargo/Moorhead *47 *42 *42 43 Houston 59 63 60 62 Los Angeles 60 59 59 59 Miami 48 44 48 46 Minneapolis/St Paul 57 62 61 61 NewOrteans 40 39 42 40 New York 32 35 37 35 Phoenix 64 87 69 66 Pittsburgh 48 48 47 47 Providence ~2 *28 32 30 San Diego 82 67 69 68
* No safety San Francisco 81 61 70 63 Seattle 69 71 75 72 belt use law
Total (19 Cities) 50 51 54 51
Total with BUL's 53 55 55 55
TotaJ without BUL's 38 34 40 35
1992 n70% by '92n Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler
r-ACTS AND RESOURCES
Use of Automatic Safety Belt Systems
Table 2 shows driver use of the three types of automatic belt system.,. Based on the
observation of 23,688 drivers, current automatic belt use was up 1 percentage point to 80
percent when compared with 1990. Current automatic I belt use in 17 cities under belt use
laws was 82 percent, while use in 2 cities not under belt use laws was 70 percent.
Motorized shoulder belt systems were observed most often (12,lSS) and their use was up 1
pe~centage point to 94 percent when compared with 1990 figures. Of these motorized
systems, use of those without disconnects (7,273) was 97 percent and use of those with
disconnects (4,882) was 90 percent.
Non-motorized three point systems were observed second most often (9,455) and their use
was down 1 percentage point to 64 percent when compared with 1990 figures. Non-
motorized shoulder belt systems were observed least (2,078). Their use rate exhibited an
increase of 8 percentage points to 73 percent when compared with 1990.
TABLE 2 -DRIVER AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT USE RATES
Automatic Belt System
All Vebld11 wltll Alltomadc 85'Ji 7K SK
Belt Systems
Non-Motorized Three-Point 77'16 759' 65'16 64%
Non-Motorized Shoulder Belt 809& 719' 659' 73%
Motorized Shoulder Belt 9791, 96'16 939' 949'
wiJhdUCOIIIVd 9291, 8991, 869& 909&
witho&ddl.tt:tJnnM:f 98CJf, 98CJf, 979(, 979(,
CldldSlll&yS.SUN
Figure 2 displays trends in the use of child safety seau for infan1s and toddlers (toddler use
includes both todcller seat and booster seat use) from 1983 to 1991. Infant seat ·use was up
4 percentage points to 87 percent (n•893) when compared with 1990 figures. Toddler seat
use decreased 3 percentap poin1S from 85 percent to 82 percent (n•5,S69).
1992 "70% by '92 " Safety Bell Program Idea Sampler
p • r
C
8
n
t
u
FACT~ ~ND RESOURCES
80
e0
40
s 20
e
0 ...__~ _ ___. __ ....._ _ __._ __ ..__...._ _ ___. _ _____,j
1983 1914 1988 1911 1987 1111 1181 1910 1911
Year
-Infant, ~ Toddlera
FIGURE 2 • CHILD SAFETY SEAT use
Motorcycle Helmet Use
Figure 3 shows trends in helmet use by drivers of motorcycles. Based on the observation of
8, 77S motorcycle drivers, helmet use decreased from 60 percent in 1990 to 58 percent in
1991. Helmet use increased from 96 percent to 100 percent in the ten cities under
motorcycle helmet laws and it increased 2 percentage points to 38 percent in cities not
under motorcycle helmet laws. The apparent anomaly of overall helmet use decreasing
while use in both law and non-law cities is increasing is due to a greater proportion of
observations in non-law cities thus far in 1991 relative to the 1990 measurement
100
p • 80
r
C 10 • n
t '° u • 20 •
0
1113 1N4 11M 11M 1H7 1111 ,... 1"0 1"1
Year
-Total UN ~ CHIN w/o HUL'I ~ CHIN W/ HUL'I
FtOURI 3 • MOTOACYCLE HELMET USI!
1992 n70% by '92 n Safety Belt Program Idea Sampler