2002 Safety Belt Usage Survey in Kentucky

Agent, Kenneth R.; Green, Eric R. · 2002 · ROSA P / University of Kentucky Transportation Center

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Summary

This report presents the findings of the 2002 Safety Belt Usage Survey in Kentucky, conducted by the University of Kentucky Transportation Center in cooperation with the Kentucky State Police. The study aimed to establish statewide safety belt and child safety seat usage rates to monitor compliance following the enactment of a mandatory statewide safety belt law in 1994. The research also sought to evaluate the impact of education and enforcement activities, such as the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, on occupant restraint usage. Data were collected between June and July 2002 at 200 randomly selected sites across Kentucky. The site selection methodology, aligned with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration guidelines, stratified locations by geographic region, road functional classification, and vehicle miles traveled. Trained observers recorded data for two hours at each site, focusing on drivers and front-seat passengers in passenger cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs. Observations were limited to vehicles stopped or moving slowly at intersections to ensure accurate visibility. The survey also included data on children under four years of age in both front and rear seats, as well as helmet usage for motorcyclists and bicyclists. Statistical analysis weighted the results by vehicle miles traveled to produce statewide estimates. The survey observed 116,275 front-seat occupants, yielding a statewide safety belt usage rate of 62.0% for all front-seat occupants in 2002, nearly identical to the 61.9% rate in 2001. Driver usage was slightly higher at 62.4%, while front-seat passenger usage was 60.4%. Usage rates varied by region, with the highest rate in the North (65.4%) and the lowest in the East (55.8%). Vehicle type significantly influenced compliance; sport utility vehicles had the highest usage rate (69.1%), while pickup trucks had the lowest (46.3%). Child safety seat usage for children under four was 92.9%, a significant increase from previous years and higher than adult usage, attributed to primary enforcement laws for child restraints. Conversely, motorcycle helmet usage dropped to 57% following the repeal of the mandatory helmet law in 1998, and bicycle helmet usage remained low at 9%. The study concludes that while safety belt usage has increased substantially since the 1994 law, current levels are lower than peak rates observed during enforcement campaigns. The authors recommend modifying the statewide law to allow primary enforcement for all occupants, rather than the current secondary enforcement, to maximize compliance. They specifically suggest primary enforcement for drivers in the graduated license program. Additionally, the data highlight the need for targeted education and enforcement in the eastern region of the state and among pickup truck occupants.

Key finding

The statewide safety belt usage rate for all front seat occupants was 62.0 percent in 2002, with significant variation by vehicle type ranging from 46.3 percent for pickup trucks to 69.1 percent for sport utility vehicles.

Methodology

on_road

Sample size: 116275

Provenance

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Topics

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• seat belt use
• child passenger safety
• incidence prevalence

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes