Evaluation of California’s Safety Belt Law Change to Primary Enforcement

Details

• Creators:
  Ulmer, Robert G. ; Preusser, C. W. ; Preusser, David F.
• Corporate Creators:
  Preusser Research Group, Inc.
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Manual safety belts
  • State laws
  • Traffic law enforcement
  • Impact studies
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-HS-808-205 ; NTIS-PB95187795
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1525330
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  California
• Edition:
  Final report
• Contracting Officer:
  Cosgrove, Linda A.
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  Some states allow an officer to stop a vehicle for an observed belt law violation alone (primary). Most require that the initial stop be made for some other violation before a belt law citation can be issued (secondary). On January 1, 1993, California became the first state to implement an uninterrupted change from secondary to primary belt law enforcement. In the six study communities, the percentage of drivers observed wearing seat belts increased from 58% prior to the law change to 76% soon thereafter. Drivers surveyed at DMV offices indicated that they had knowledge of the new law and were more likely to wear their belts now than in the past. Police officers participating in focus groups indicated that they were pleased with the change to primary enforcement and had received no negative public reaction. /Abstract from report summary page/
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DTNH22-92-D-05270
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1543/dot_1543_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.54 MB]
• Collection(s):
  NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:6de6a68858a95ec838a816ac9b38fad8a432dce3e23e08424979e70418d4e715