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November 30, 2006
PRIMARY BELT USE ENFORCEMENT LAWS FOUND TO PAY OFF
A research paper in the American Journal of Public Health has found evidence that when a state upgrades its belt-use law enforcement from secondary to primary offence, the payoff in increased belt use is significant. Primary enforcement allows the police to ticket for non-use of restraints by motorists; secondary enforcement requires that a motorist be stopped for another infraction before a ticket can be issued for restraint non-use.
The abstract of the paper noted that, “The authors looked at restraint use rates in 47 states and the District of Columbia from 1991 to 2003, and compared the rates among states that had primary laws, secondary laws, and those that upgraded their laws during the study period. According to the authors, states that upgraded to primary enforcement laws experienced the greatest average increase in seatbelt use. From 1991 to 2003, states that upgraded raised their average belt use from 55.5 percent to 82.7 percent. The authors said states that upgraded to primary enforcement laws experienced an increase in belt use of about 10 percentage points. Furthermore, these states experienced belt use rates that were comparable to those of the original primary enforcement states. Thus, states that make the switch from secondary enforcement to primary enforcement can take full advantage of the safety benefits [that] primary enforcement offers.”
According to the authors’ estimates, states that upgraded their seatbelt laws since 1993 likely saved over 3,000 lives.
Posted by MVHAP at November 30, 2006 07:57 PM