1991 SAFETY BELT USAGE SURVEY AND EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS IN KENTUCKY

The objective of the survey was to establish 1991 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. Data were collected at 100 sites and combined based on vehicle miles travelled for a given type of highway, rural or urban location, and county population category. Also included in this report is an analysis of accident records evaluating the effectiveness of safety belts. Statewide usage rates were 39% for drivers and front-seat passengers (over 19 years of age) and 57% for children under four years of age (front and rear seats). Driver usage rates had increased significantly in 1991 compared to 1990. Rates were highest on interstate highways and lowest on rural, non-interstate highways. Benefits in the reduction of injuries for occupants involved in police-reported accidents wearing a safety belt or in a safety seat were shown through the analysis of accident records. For example, a 49% reduction in fatal or incapacitating injuries was determined for drivers wearing a safety belt compared to those who were not restrained. The increased usage that resulted in Fayette County and Louisville after enactment of local mandatory usage laws was shown. The recommendation is that a statewide mandatory safety belt law should be passed or, in lieu of a statewide law, additional local governments should pass such a law.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.13023/KTC.RR.1991.09
• Record URL:
  https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/17000/17100/17145/PB2000108493.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center
  College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281

  Kentucky State Police

  Highway Safety Standards Branch, 919 Versailles Road
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40601
• Authors:
  • Agent, K R
• Publication Date: 1991-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Crash records; Injury rates; Laws; Rural areas; Seat belts; Surveys; Urban areas; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Highway classification
• Geographic Terms: Kentucky
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00798944
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Report/Paper Numbers: KTC-91-9
• Contract Numbers: LE-91-03-005
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 15 2000 12:00AM