Seat Belt Safety

About Seat Belts

Seat belts on school buses, primary seat belt laws for all states, and child safety seat inspection stations. We are obviously a country concerned about reducing highway fatalities and with very good reason. Approximately 40,000 Americans have died in automobile accidents each year since 1995. While this is a very disturbing number, it would be much higher if seat belts were not being used at all. There is growing enthusiasm for legislation to ensure that seat belts are correctly worn by ALL occupants of motor vehicles.

Seat Belts Articles and Information

Federal Grants to Increase Seat Belt Use

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta announced that 44.4 million dollars of grants will be given to states that develop projects to increase seat belt use. Full Story

Fourth Report to Congress and Second Report to the President

Status of Buckle Up America Campaign. Recent campaign activities highlight legislation, enforcement, public support, grants, and outreach activities. Full Story

2001 Report- Buying a Safer Car for Child Passengers

Buying a safer car becomes a critical issue when shopping for a new car especially if you have children. It is important to consider many variables including how many children you have and how old they are. You should also consider whether the seat belt system of the car will meet the needs of your children and if the car has a LATCH system if you will be using a car seat. Some features that will be important when considering your choice of vehicle include manual air bag on-off switch, rear center seat lap and shoulder belts, built-in child seats, rear adjustable upper belts and lower anchors, and interior trunk release. Full Story

NHTSA Urges Parents to Keep Children Buckled Up

Child highway fatalities have decreased substantially with child restraint use. However, in 2000, more than half of child highway fatalities occurred when the child was not restrained properly or at all. Full Story

Child Safety restraint systems on school buses

The number of pre-school age children transported in school buses to school and child care programs is at an all time high. Just as in other vehicles, these children need to be properly secured in Child Safety Restraint Systems (CSRS) when traveling in a school bus. Full Story

NHTSA Reports Major Gains in Seat Belt Use In States with New Primary Belt Laws

Seat belt use jumped in 2000 for three states that enacted primary belt use laws during the year, according to newly released state statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation & National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In states with a primary seat belt law, motor vehicle occupants can be stopped and cited by law enforcement officials for not wearing their belts whether or not another violation has occurred. In states with secondary enforcement, the vehicle must have been stopped for another offense before the occupant can be cited for not wearing a belt. READ FULL ARTICLE

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