Associations Between Sociodemographics and Safety Belt Use in States With and Without Primary Enforcement Laws

This article reports on a study of the associations between sociodemographics and safety belt use in states with and without primary enforcement laws. Primary enforcement laws are those in which police may stop and ticket a motorist solely for being unbelted; secondary enforcement laws are those in which police may issue a safety belt citation only if the vehicle has been stopped for another reason. The authors analyzed Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 50 states and the District of Columbia for the year 2000. Analyses were performed to assess the effect of sociodemographic characteristics and safety belt laws on safety belt use. The results showed that safety belt use was 85% in states that had primary enforcement laws and 74% in states that had secondary enforcement laws. Cross-sectional data suggested that primary enforcement laws may have the greatest effect on sociodemographic groups that reported lower levels of safety belt use, including people who drive after drinking alcohol, Blacks, overweight and obese people, males, young adults, and residents of rural areas. The authors conclude that primary enforcement laws are an effective population-based strategy for reducing disparities in safety belt use and may, therefore, reduce disparities in crash-related injuries and fatalities.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00900036
• Authors:
  • Beck, Laurie F
  • Shults, Ruth A
  • Mack, Karin A
  • Ryan, George W
• Publication Date: 2007-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1619-1624
• Serial:
  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: American Public Health Association
  • ISSN: 0090-0036
  • EISSN: 1541-0048
  • Serial URL: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/loi/ajph

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Blacks; Demographics; Drunk drivers; Fatalities; Gender; Laws and legislation; Obesity; Race; Risk assessment; Rural areas; Safety; Seat belts; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic violations
• Identifier Terms: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Primary law enforcement; Secondary law enforcement
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01083190
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 31 2007 7:37AM