The authors examined state-specific and aggregate effects of U.S. legislation requiring the use of seat belts among front-seat motor vehicle occupants. Effects of compulsory seat belt use on the number of occupants fatally injured in traffic crashes were examined in the first eight states adopting such laws. Monthly data on crash fatalities between January 1976 and June 1986 were analyzed using Box-Jenkins intervention analysis time-series methods. Because the new laws apply only to front-seat occupants, front-seat occupant fatalities were compared with: (1) rear-seat fatalities; (2) nonoccupant fatalities (motorcyclists, pedalcyclists, pedestrians); and (3) fatalities among front-seat occupants in neighboring states without compulsory seat belt use. Exposure to risk of crash involvement was controlled by analyzing fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled. Results revealed a statistically significant decline in the rate of front-seat fatalities of 8.7% in the first eight states with seat belt laws.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Effects of Mandatory Seat Belt Laws on Traffic Fatalities in the First Eight States Enacting Seat Belt Laws


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1987


    Size :

    75 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Mandatory seat belt laws in eight states: a time-series evaluation

    Wagenaar, Alexander C. / Maybee, Richard G. / Sullivan, Kathleen P. | Elsevier | 1988


    Mandatory Seat Belt Laws - An Arizona Perspective

    Perkins, David D. / Schmitt, Louis A. | SAE Technical Papers | 1986


    Mandatory Seat Belt Laws - An Arizona Perspective

    Schmitt,L.A. / Perkins,D.A. / Arizona Dep.of Transportation,US | Automotive engineering | 1986


    Fatality Reductions from Mandatory Seat belt Usage Laws

    Skinner, David / Hoxie, Paul | SAE Technical Papers | 1987