Are Seat Belt Usage Rates Lower than We Think?

Abstract

The observed seat belt usage rates for front seat occupants have improved over the last few decades to 79% across the country in 2003. However, these usage rates, observed at intersections and at freeway entrances, may provide overestimates of actual rates for occupants that are belted at the start of the drive cycle. In the current study, we observed seat belt usage patterns of drivers and front seat passengers exiting gasoline stations, malls, and other public locations to determine whether their seat belts were fastened before leaving the premises as well as how grasping and buckling movements were completed. Contrary to the national usage rates for drivers and front seat occupants, only 52% of the occupants fastened their seat belts before leaving the public locations. We discuss these findings in terms of driver behavior and factors that influence the normal procedural sequences at the start of the drive cycle.