Does seat belt use go up in states that have primary seat belt laws?
The seat belt usage rate is generally higher in states that have and enforce primary laws. seat belt use reached an all time high of 83% as of 2008 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. States with primary enforcement have higher usage rates, averaging 88%, while states with secondary laws are at 75%. In Canada, which has a national primary seat belt law, the usage rate is 92%. The seat belt usage rate in Colorado is 81.7% and in Wyoming it is 72% – well below the national average, while New Mexico has an estimated usage rate of 92% with its primary law on the books. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compared the percentage of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities with overall crash fatalities in each state for the years 2000-2004. In states with primary laws on the books not only were fewer people killed unrestrained, but also the states’ overall vehicle crash fatality rates were lower. In states with primary enforcement
The seat belt usage rate is generally higher in states that have and enforce primary laws. Seat belt use reached an all time high of 83% as of 2008 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to NHTSA, states with primary seat belt laws have an average seat belt use rate that is 13% higher than secondary enforcement states. The seat belt usage rate in Colorado is 81.1% and in Wyoming it is 68.6%—well below the national average, while New Mexico has an estimated usage rate of 91.1% with its primary law on the books. NHTSA compared the percentage of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities with overall crash fatalities in each state for the years 2000-2004. In states with primary laws on the books not only were fewer people killed unrestrained, but also the states’ overall vehicle crash fatality rates were lower. In states with primary enforcement laws rates were 10.69 per 100,000 people. In states without primary enforcement, the fatality
