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Show Seat Belt Non-Use (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 50% of fatalities from motor vehicle accidents could be prevented if seat belts were worn. Therefore, it is encouraging to see the substantial drop in Utahns and Americans who report they only sometimes, seldom, or never use seat belts. In 1993 more than 82% of Utahns surveyed reported they always or almost always use seat belts. It should be noted that this is a self-reported study. When actual observations were made in 1994, the percentage of those actually wearing seat belts appeared to be significantly lower than what respondents to the survey have reported. See the "Utah Safety Belt Observation Study" below. Figure 43 _________________________ Table 72. Seat Belt Non-Use U.S. U.S. U.S. Year Utah Low Median High 1986 47.4 8.8 47.9 71.2 1987 39.2 7 42.1 72 1988 33.3 6.5 30.1 67.4 1989 34.6 6.3 28.6 61.9 1990 30.5 4.9 25.9 59.6 1991 25.1 4 23.8 56.4 1992 21.8 4 19.3 51.6 1993 17.3 3.9 20.8 52.0 Percentage of persons who report sometimes, seldom, or never using safety belts. Seat Belt Non-Use --------A------ --*---------A ----T" ""9-----i1 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 -----O------U.S. Low----- O- --U.S. Median Utah ------A---U.S. High Utah Safety Belt Observation Study Unlike the BRFSS, which asks respondents whether or not they use safety belts, the annual Utah Safety Belt Observation Study measures usage rates based on actual observations of drivers, front seat passengers and children. The 1994 survey was conducted during May at a fixed number of urban and rural locations at various times of the day. The 1994 study observed that safety belt usage for drivers and front seat passengers was 49.8% for in-city driving and 61.9% for highway/freeway driving. Combining these rates results in an overall seat belt usage rate of 53.2%, an increase from the 1993 rate of 49.7%, but far less than the percentage reporting that they always or almost always used seat belts in the BRFSS. In the 1994 observation study, 80.7% of children ages 0-2 were properly restrained, which is about the same rate as in 1993. However, only 33.3% of children 2-8 years of age were observed to be properly restrained in 1994, and the overall child restraint usage rate fell from 55.7% in 1993 to 46.1% in 1994.1 Department of Public Safety. Utah Safety Belt Observation Study 1994. 90 Risk Factors |