NTL Record

Title Evaluation of Louisiana’s Safety Belt Law Change to Primary Enforcement
Record ID 6880
Personal Name
Creator
Preusser, David F.
Source 102 p. in various pagings : ill.
Corporate Creator Preusser Research Group, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publisher United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Publication Date 19970900
Language English
Abstract Some states allow an officer to stop a vehicle for an observed belt law violation alone (primary enforcement). Most require that the initial stop be made for some other violation before a belt law citation can be issued (secondary enforcement). On November 1, 1995, Louisiana became the second state to implement an uninterrupted change from secondary to primary belt law enforcement. In the five Louisiana communities studied, the percentage of front seat occupants observed wearing seat belts increased from 52 percent prior to the law change to 68 percent six months after the change. Police officers participating in focus groups indicated that they were pleased with the change to primary enforcement and had received little or no negative public reaction. Most of the 2,499 drivers surveyed at OMV offices indicated that they knew they could be stopped for a belt law violation and that the law was being strictly enforced. The present results, combined with results obtained earlier in California, suggest that a secondary enforcement state can achieve a substantial increase in belt use by changing to primary enforcement. /Abstract from report summary page/
Rosap ID dot:1045
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1045
TRT Terms Manual safety belts; State laws; Traffic law enforcement; Surveys; Impact studies; Statistics
General Subjects Seat belt usage
Classification NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety;
NTL - LAWS AND REGULATIONS - State Laws and Regulations;
NTL - PLANNING AND POLICY - Surveys;
NTL - REFERENCES AND DIRECTORIES - Statistics
Geographical
Coverage
Louisiana
TRIS Online
Accession No
756324
Contract Number DTNH22-94-D-05044
Report Number DOT-HS-808-620; NTIS-PB2006101889
Availability NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
Resource type Research Paper
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/6000/6800/6880/DOT-HS-808-620.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository