Process and Outcome Evaluation: The Buckle Up America Initiatives

Solomon, M. G. (Mark Geoffrey); Leaf, W. A.; Nissen, W. J. · 2001 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report evaluates the Buckle Up America (BUA) Initiative, a national program launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1997 to increase seat belt usage and reduce child fatalities. The initiative was motivated by the recognition that occupant restraint is the most effective method for reducing injuries and saving lives, yet national belt use remained at 61% prior to the program's inception. BUA established specific goals: increasing national seat belt use to 85% by 2000 and decreasing fatalities among children under five by 15% by the same year. The initiative comprised four components: building partnerships, enacting new legislation, conducting strong enforcement, and expanding public information and education. The evaluation utilized multiple data sources to assess outcomes and process. Trends in occupant restraint use were analyzed using the National Occupant Protection Usage Survey (NOPUS), state-reported belt use rates, and the Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS). Fatality trends were examined using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Enforcement trends were measured through law enforcement citation data collected from 32 states for seat belts and 29 states for child restraints, categorized by jurisdiction type and population size. Additionally, case studies in ten states documented legislative efforts and exemplary programs from public and private partners. Results indicated that seat belt usage increased from 58% in 1994 to 71% in 2000 according to NOPUS data. However, by 1998, only five states and the District of Columbia achieved usage rates at or above 80%, all of which had primary enforcement laws. Primary law states consistently outperformed secondary law states, with an average usage rate 14 percentage points higher. Child restraint use improved markedly, particularly for children aged one to four. Fatalities for children under five decreased by 11.9% between 1996 and 1998, with the largest drop occurring in children under one year old (-20.9%). Enforcement activity increased overall, with seat belt citations rising 7.8% and child restraint citations rising 8.3% across reporting states. Six states and the District of Columbia passed primary enforcement laws during the study period. The study concludes that while BUA made remarkable progress toward reducing child fatalities, it fell short of its 85% national seat belt usage goal by 2000. The data suggest that primary enforcement laws are strongly associated with higher compliance rates and increased citation activity. The initiative successfully mobilized law enforcement and private partners, contributing to improved safety outcomes, particularly for young children. The findings underscore the effectiveness of combining legislative changes, enforcement, and public education to improve occupant protection.

Key finding

Seat belt usage increased from 58 percent in 1994 to 71 percent in 2000, and child fatalities under age five decreased by 11.9 percent between 1996 and 1998.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• seat belt use
• child passenger safety
• regulatory evaluation

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation, policy recommendations
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence