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CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Use of Safety Belts: Laws Mandating Use

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Safety belt laws mandate the use of safety belts by motor vehicle occupants. All current U.S. laws cover front seat occupants. Other requirements, such as rear seat coverage, fines, affected age groups, type of enforcement, and exempted vehicles and drivers vary by state.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends safety belt laws as a strategy based on strong evidence of their effectiveness in increasing safety belt use and reducing fatal and non-fatal injuries among adolescents and adults.

Results / Accomplishments

Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Thirty-three studies qualified for the systematic review.

• Fatal injuries: median decrease of 9% (interquartile interval: 2% to 18% decrease; 6 studies)
• Nonfatal injuries: median decrease of 2% (interquartile interval: 15% decrease to 11% increase; 6 studies)
• Fatal and nonfatal injuries combined: median decrease of 8% (interquartile interval: 3% to 20% decrease; 9 studies)
• Observed safety belt use: median increase of 33 percentage points (interquartile interval: 20 to 36 percentage points; 10 studies)
• Police-reported safety belt use: increase of 26 percentage points (2 studies)
• Self-reported safety belt use: median increase of 16 percentage points (interquartile interval: 13 to 19 percentage points; 4 studies)

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Community / Governance
Community / Transportation
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults