NTL Record

Title Evaluation of New York State’s Mandatory Occupant Restraint Law: Volume IV: Enforcement and Adjudication of Violations of the Law
Record ID 25753
Personal Name
Creator
Rood, Debra H.; McCartt, Anne Taylor; Kraichy, Patricia P.; Carman, Jane A.
Source 1 v. (various pagings) : ill.
Corporate Creator State University of New York. Research Foundation. Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 19870100
Language English
Abstract This is the final report on analyses of the available 1985 enforcement and adjudication data relating to New York State's Mandatory Occupant Restraint Law. In the first year of the law there were over 30,000 violations that resulted in conviction. The number of convictions did not fluctuate substantially throughout the year. 57% were in the Upstate region, 19% were in the New York City region and 24% were in the Long Island region. 80% of the tickets resulting in a conviction were written for unrestrained drivers, 8% for adult front seat passengers, and 12% for children. Almost all convictions resulted in a fine, and 90% of the fines were $25 or less. Nearly 3/4 of the persons convicted of a seat belt violation were men, and 2/3 of those convicted were under 35 years of age. In addition, 1985 data on all safety belt violations were available for 17 counties in the State. 3/4 of the tickets were for unbelted drivers, 8% were for adult front seat passengers, and 17% were for children. Nearly 2/3 were written on routine patrol and 20% were issued during accident investigations. 15% of the tickets were dismissed and 85% resulted in conviction. Nearly half the fines paid were $10 or less. The results of primary and secondary enforcement could not be differentiated. Low secondary enforcement was evident given the observed usage rates and the number of convictions for other violations. An increase in the actual and perceived risk of enforcement should help raise compliance with the law in the future. /Abstract from report summary page/
Rosap ID dot:1462
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1462
TRT Terms Manual safety belts; Front seat occupants; State laws; Traffic law enforcement; Adjudication; Child restraint systems; Before and after studies; Statistics
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors;
NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - State Laws and Regulations;
NTL - REFERENCES AND DIRECTORIES - Statistics
Geographical
Coverage
New York
TRIS Online
Accession No
496616
Contract Number DTNH22-84-C-077467
Report Number DOT-HS-807-077; NTIS-PB87185336
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Research Paper
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/25000/25700/25753/DOT-HS-807-077_001.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository