NTL Record

Title Summary of Nighttime Belt Use Studies
Record ID 30129
Source 2 p. : ill.; Series: Traffic safety facts. Research note
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research
Publisher United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 20070500
Language English
Abstract Despite gains in the daytime national seat belt rate over the past few years, reaching 81 percent in 2006 (Glassbrenner and Ye, 2007), the number of fatalities has remained basically unchanged. One reason for this may be that many fatalities occur at night when seat belt use is much lower than daytime. In 2004, for example, 25 percent of front seat occupant fatalities occurred between the hours of 10:00 pm and 3:59 am. While this window of time represents 25 percent of the hours in a day, only about 12 to 15 percent of daily vehicle traffic occurs during this time (Hallenbeck, Smith, & Cornell-Martinez, 1997). Increasing seat belt usage among occupants traveling at night could substantially lessen injury and fatality rates among passenger vehicle occupants. Recent research by NHTSA and others shows a significant gap between observed day and night belt use.
Rosap ID dot:1820
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1820
TRT Terms Manual safety belts; Night; Nighttime crashes
General Subjects Seat belt usage
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Accidents;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - SAFETY AND SECURITY
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number DOT-HS-810-774
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Research Paper
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/30000/30100/30129/810774.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository