DIRECT OBSERVATION OF SEAT BELT USE IN MICHIGAN: DECEMBER 1984

A direct observation survey was conducted in December, 1984, of 17,568 motor vehicle occupants at a carefully selected probability sample of 240 intersections throughout the State of Michigan. The sample was designed to adequately represent all regions of the state. Among drivers, 19.5% were using seat belts, among front seat passengers, 17.6% were restrained, and among all occupants, 19.8% were restrained. In Michigan, children under age four are required by law to be restrained when traveling in an automobile. Of the 538 children under four observed, 60.8% were restrained. Differential restraint use was examined by age, sex, seating position, time of day, day of week, type of roadway, weather conditions, vehicle type and size, and region of state. Use of occupant restraints was higher in December, 1984 than August, 1983, when an earlier survey was conducted. As of July 1, 1985, all drivers and front seat passengers traveling in Michigan will be required by law to be restrained. Results of the current survey will function as a baseline from which the effects of the law will be measured. Additional survey waves are planned for 1985 and 1986.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150

  Office of Highway Safety Planning

  111 S Capitol Avenue, Lower Level
  Lansing, MI  United States  48913
• Authors:
  • Wagenaar, A C
  • Wiviott, MBT
• Publication Date: 1985-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 74 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Child restraint systems; Data collection; Drivers; Front seat occupants; Intersections; Laws; Manual safety belts; Surveys; Utilization
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452240
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-85-11 Final Rpt., HS-038 674
• Contract Numbers: MDE-85-004A
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM