Survey Finds Support for Primary Seat Belt Enforcement
7 September 2000
IRC Survey Finds Support for Primary Seat Belt Enforcement And Red Light CamerasMALVERN, Pa., Sept. 7 According to a recent Insurance Research Council (IRC) survey of U.S. households, Americans support measures such as primary seat belt enforcement and red light cameras that are designed to increase compliance with vehicle safety laws. Eighty-nine percent of respondents supported some type of seat belt law. Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents favored primary enforcement, whereby police can stop a driver solely on the basis of not wearing a seat belt. Forty-one percent of respondents favored secondary enforcement, which requires police to have some other reason to stop a vehicle before citing an occupant for not buckling up. On the second issue, most respondents supported mounting cameras at intersections to photograph vehicles running red lights. Nearly six in ten respondents (59 percent) said that they strongly or somewhat favor the use of red light cameras to deter red light running in their communities. "Other research has shown that primary seat belt enforcement and red light cameras are effective in reducing accidents and saving lives," said Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senior vice president, who heads the IRC. "It is encouraging that most Americans support these measures." The results contained in IRC's recently released report, Public Attitude Monitor 2000, Issue 2, were based on a survey conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide. The survey consisted of in-home interviews with 1,996 men and women 18 years old and older. Survey participants were selected to be representative of the population of the continental U.S. The survey also addressed insurance satisfaction, general insurance knowledge, and attitudes towards banks and insurance.