African Americans Report Overwhelming Support for Primary Seat Belt Laws
15 October 1999
African Americans Report Overwhelming Support for Primary Seat Belt LawsBlacks in States With Primary Seat Belt Laws Report Higher Seat Belt Use And Almost No Problems Stemming From the Law WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- African Americans who live in states with a primary seat belt law, enforceable on the same basis as other traffic laws, overwhelmingly favor the law -- by more than a 3-to-1 margin. Less than one-half of one percent of African Americans report race-related harassment problems as a result of their state's seat belt law. And, self reported belt use in primary enforcement states is 17 percentage points higher than in states with weaker secondary enforcement laws. Sponsors of the research said they hope the results will help overcome concerns that the passage of primary seat belt laws may contribute to increased harassment of African Americans. A telephone survey of more than 1,100 African Americans was conducted earlier this year as a joint project of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign. Silas Lee, III, a leading African American researcher, coordinated the study which was conducted by African American telephone interviewers. "We talked with African Americans in states with both primary and secondary laws and there was no indication that there was a greater problem with harassment in states with primary seat belt laws," said State Representative Bob Holmes (D-GA), Transportation Chairman of the NBCSL. "The overwhelming support for strong belt laws by African Americans in primary belt law states tells us that the law is working fine for them, and that they want the benefits of fewer injuries and deaths." In 1995, Representative Holmes sponsored a bill that upgraded Georgia's seat belt law to primary status. Debate in recent years has centered around the extent to which primary seat belt laws might contribute to harassment of African Americans in traffic stops -- also known as "DWB" or "Driving While Black." Surgeon General David Satcher has called low seat belt use among African Americans a major public health issue. In addition, a recent study showed that African American children are dying in crashes at three times the rate of other children. Experience has demonstrated conclusively that the enactment and enforcement of primary seat belt laws increases seat belt use and decreases injuries and deaths. A recent study by Meharry Medical College, a private, historically black academic health center, recommended that more states pass primary seat belt laws to save the lives of all Americans including African Americans. At the same time, it called for additional research to learn more about the impact of primary seat belt laws on African Americans. The survey released today represents the first systematic attempt to gauge the experience of African Americans living under primary seat belt laws. Among the findings: * Nine percent of African Americans in primary states report experiencing problems of any kind related to the seat belt law compared to 13 percent of African Americans in secondary states. One percent report "a lot of problems," four percent report "some problems," and six percent report "a few problems." * Less than one half of one percent reported race-related or harassment problems. Other "problems" mentioned were being required to wear a seat belt or being ticketed for not wearing a seat belt. The perception of racially motivated traffic stops is equally small in both primary and secondary belt law states. "If primary seat belt laws contribute to racially motivated traffic stops and harassment of African Americans, people in states with primary belt laws should report more perceived problems and more racially motivated traffic stops," said Silas Lee, III. "They do not. In fact, they report fewer problems in primary seat belt enforcement states." Currently 16 states and the District of Columbia have primary seat belt laws, and belt use in those states runs about 10-15 percentage points higher than in states with secondary laws. In every state that has strengthened its seat belt use law from secondary to primary status African American legislators have been sponsors or brought critical support to these efforts. The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign has been supporting the work of groups in several states, including New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin, to upgrade laws from secondary to primary. "Public education alone does not motivate our young people to buckle up," said Assemblyman Herbert Conaway, M.D.(D-NJ). "Belt use among young black males is significantly higher in primary states. This tells us that passing primary belt laws is key to preventing the senseless loss of our young people." Assemblyman Conaway is currently sponsoring a primary seat belt bill in New Jersey. "It is a credit to the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators that they expended the time and effort to ask hard questions and get the answers," said State Senator Kendrick Meek (D-FL). "These findings should help overcome concerns and build support for primary belt laws in every state in the nation."