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Michigan Safety Belt Use Rate Released for 1998

8 December 1998

Michigan Safety Belt Use Rate Released for 1998, Reports Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning

    LANSING, Mich., Dec. 7 -- Michigan's just-released safety
belt use rate has not changed significantly from last year, according to the
1998 safety belt use survey conducted by the University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), reports the Michigan Office of
Highway Safety Planning.
    The state's safety belt use rate is 69.9 percent, compared to 67.6 percent
in 1997.  The national rate, based on 1997 figures, is 67.6 percent.
    This is the first year Michigan and other states are reporting safety belt
use rates as the average for passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles,
vans/minivans, and pickup trucks.  Historically, federal guidelines have
required states to base their safety belt use rates strictly on belt use in
passenger vehicles.  Those rules have been changed to reflect the popularity
of all vehicle types.
    "Michigan cannot be contented with such small gains in safety belt use,"
said Betty J. Mercer, division director of the Michigan Office of Highway
Safety Planning.  "The bottom line is that safety belts, more often than not,
mean the difference between life or death, between serious or minor injures,
in the event of a traffic crash."
    The survey, conducted annually by UMTRI, provides information on a
statewide basis.
    Despite special efforts to increase safety belt use among those who drive
pickup trucks, that belt use rate is lowest at 54.1 percent.  Belt use is
highest among those who drive vans and minivans, 75.7 percent.
    Belt use is lowest for those aged 16-29, at 63.6 percent, and highest for
the 4-15 age group, 75.2 percent.  Among pickup trucks, belt use is
significantly lower for the 16-29 age group, 47.4 percent.  These low numbers,
among young adults who drive pickups, bring down the state's overall belt use
rate.
    Mercer added, "Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for infants,
children and young adults.  Unbuckled children are at serious risk.  Parents
and caregivers must take time to see that children are properly buckled at all
times.  And we know that parents who buckle up are positive role models --
their children are more likely to be buckled up."
    Safety belts are still the most effective means to prevent death and
reduce the likelihood of injury.  Last year in Michigan, 1,446 people were
killed in traffic crashes.  Of those who died, less than half were buckled up.
Studies show that three out of five of these victims would have survived if
they were wearing safety belts.

    Overall Belt Use Rate.  The table below shows the statewide safety belt
use rate for all vehicles combined over the last five years.  The use rate has
shown a consistent increase over the last five years, with the safety belt use
rate increasing by 7.2 percentage points since 1994.  This finding shows that
efforts to increase safety belt use in Michigan have been effective over the
last five years and should be continued.

    Front-Outboard Shoulder Belt Use by Year (All Vehicle Types Combined)

    Year          Use Rate
    1994            62.7
    1995            64.6
    1996            66.9
    1997            67.6
    1998            69.9