Table 2-29: Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use
Table 2-29: Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use
(percent)a
| 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVERALL Safety Belt Use | 58 | 61 | 69 | 67 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 79 | 80 | 82 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 |
| Drivers | 59 | 62 | 70 | 67 | 72 | 74 | 76 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 |
| Passengers | 55 | 59 | 65 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 73 | 77 | 76 | 78 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 83 |
| Passenger carsb | 63 | 65 | 71 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 77 | 81 | 81 | 83 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 86 | 86 |
| Drivers | 64 | 65 | 72 | 71 | 75 | 77 | 78 | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Passengers | 59 | 62 | 68 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 74 | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Light trucksb,c | 50 | 56 | 66 | 62 | 68 | 69 | 73 | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Drivers | 51 | 58 | 67 | 62 | 69 | 70 | 73 | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Passengers | 49 | 53 | 61 | 60 | 65 | 69 | 72 | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | U |
| Vans and sport utility vehiclesc | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | 83 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 88 |
| Pickup trucksc | U | U | U | U | U | U | U | 69 | 70 | 73 | 74 | 72 | 74 | 74 | 75 |
| Motorcycle Helmet Used | 63 | 64 | 67 | U | 71 | U | 58 | U | 58 | 48 | 51 | 58 | 63 | 67 | U |
| Operators | 67 | 66 | 64 | U | 72 | U | 59 | U | 63 | 56 | 57 | 59 | 64 | 69 | U |
| Riders | 54 | 58 | 84 | U | 62 | U | 48 | U | 41 | 29 | 33 | 56 | 54 | 55 | U |
KEY: U = data are unavailable.
a Since 2001, Seat belt use is as of June of each year. For 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000, Seat belt use is as of the Fall. For 1999, Seat belt use is as of December. Motorcycle helmet use is as of the Fall each year for 1994, 1998, and 2000, and is as of January for 1996. Motorcycle helmet use is as of June each year for 2002-09.
b Beginning in 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) no longer computes an overall light truck belt use estimate. Instead, belt use is computed separately for motorists in: (1) vans and sport utility vehicles, and (2) pickup trucks. Additionally, NHTSA no longer reports separate statistics for Passengers and Drivers, except at the overall level.
c Includes pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.
d In 1994, operators and riders were counted as helmeted if wearing any type of helmet. Since then, only those operators and riders wearing safety helmets that met U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards were counted. Those safety helmets that do not meet DOT standards were treated as if the operator/rider were not wearing a helmet.
NOTE
Occupants of commercial and emergency vehicles are excluded.
SOURCES
Safety belt use:
1994-2002: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 1, available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809500.PDF as of June 24, 2009.
2003: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2003, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 809 646 (Washington, DC: 2003), available at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/809646.pdf as of June 24, 2009.
2004: Ibid., Safety Belt use in 2005-Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 809 932 (Washington, DC: 2005), available at http://www.westernite.org/Sections/sbr/articles/Seatbelt-usage.pdf as of June 24, 2009.
2005-06: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2006-Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 810 677 (Washington, DC: 2006), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810677.PDF as of June 24, 2009.
2007-08: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2008-Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 811 036 (Washington, DC: 2008), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811036.PDF as of June 24, 2009.
2009-10: Ibid., Seatbelt Use in 2010-Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 811 378 (Washington, DC: 2010), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811378.pdf as of Oct. 7, 2010.
Motorcycle helmet use:
1994-98: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Research Note, Observed Safety Belt Use in 1998 (Washington, DC: September 1999), table 3, available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/1999/98obbelt.html as of January 2003.
2000, 2002: Ibid., Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 6, available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2002/809-500.pdf as of January 2003.
2004: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2005 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 937 (Washington, DC: 2005), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-937/images/809937.pdf as of Oct. 16, 2006.
2005-06: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 810 678 (Washington, DC: 2006), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-937/images/809937.pdf as of June 8, 2007.
2007-08: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2008-Overall Results, DOT HS 811 044 (Washington, DC: 2008), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811044.PDF as of June 24, 2009.
2009: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2009-Overall Results, DOT HS 811 254 (Washington, DC: 2009), available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811254.pdf as of Oct. 7, 2010.