U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Record-Level Safety Belt Use

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2003 -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced that safety belt use in the United States has reached 79 percent -- the highest level in the nation's history.

Every region of the country registered increases in belt use since 2002, according to a new survey by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The nationwide survey was conducted after the massive "Click It or Ticket" mobilization in May, the largest-ever nationwide law enforcement effort to increase safety belt use.

"We should all be proud of the efforts that went into this historic accomplishment," Secretary Mineta said. "But, make no mistake about it, our work is not done yet. The Bush administration is committed to safety as its highest transportation priority, and we will not be satisfied until everyone buckles up for every trip."

The historic, high belt usage statistics were addressed today by NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge, M.D., at the Governors Highway Safety Association's (GHSA) annual meeting in New Orleans.

Both Secretary Mineta and Administrator Runge credited the hard work of the state highway safety offices, state and local law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups and public/private sector partners, including the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign for the increase in belt use.

The May enforcement mobilization was, for the first time, supplemented by an almost $25 million state and national media campaign. More than 12,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico conducted safety belt checkpoints and other special law enforcement activities as part of the campaign.

"This was a prodigious nationwide effort with broad support and enthusiasm from national, state and local governments and the private sector. The nation is indebted to all for their hard work," said Dr. Runge.

According to NHTSA estimates, the increase in belt use this year will translate into more than 1,000 lives saved each year the gains are sustained. In addition, the costs to society are reduced by at least $3.2 billion.

Restraint use estimates are based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), conducted annually by NHTSA. The previous survey in June 2002 found nationwide belt use at 75 percent. The scientific survey is based on observations at 2,000 sites nationwide.

  Additional key findings of the latest NOPUS survey include the following:

  *     States with primary safety belt laws averaged 83 percent belt usage
        while states with secondary laws averaged 75 percent. Twenty states,
        the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have primary belt laws.

  *     Pickup truck occupants registered the lowest usage rate -- 69
        percent -- among passenger vehicles.

  *     Occupants of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans registered the
        highest use rate -- 83 percent.

  *     Usage is lowest in the Northeast (74 percent) followed by the
        Midwest at 75 percent. Belt use is highest in the West (84 percent)
        and South (80 percent).

NHTSA has been gathering NOPUS statistics on restraint use since 1994. The latest numbers were derived from a survey conducted during a 20-day period in June 2003.

The margin of error for the survey on the national estimates of restraint use is plus or minus 1.2 percentage points. The newly released NHTSA survey results can be found on the agency's website at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.