Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2011 revealed that compliance with seat belt laws among drivers across the United States substantially increased when the amount and frequency of fines for violating those laws increased. The NHTSA confirmed through reports associated with the research that making seat belt laws primary rather than secondary in terms of enforcement is the most effective way to get drivers to buckle their seat belts every time they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. States with primary seat belt law enforcement and hefty fines for violators have the lowest rates of violations in the country.
States have been trying for years to get people to establish a habit of buckling their seat belts but have found it difficult to do so. Habitual seat belt use nationwide was at 85 percent in 2010 which is encouraging but still much lower than other countries like Canada, Australia, and many countries in Europe, all of which have usage rates in the upper 90th percentile. The research conducted by the NHTSA proved to legislators that stiffer penalties increased seat belt law compliance but that the United States still has plenty of room for improvement in the way of regular seat belt use by America’s drivers.
