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Health Indicator Report of Seat Belt Usage by Drivers and Front Seat Passengers (Observed)

For adults and older children (who are big enough for seat belts to fit properly), seat belt use is one of the most effective ways to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes.[https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbelts/index.html ^1^]

Notes

This is Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) Objective IVP-7c. ** No survey conducted. See [https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813109 Seat Belt Use in 2020] for more information. In 2011, NHTSA established new uniform criteria (23 CFR Part 1340) for observational surveys. In the transitional period, NHTSA allowed the states and territories the option to use either the old or new criteria for 2012 surveys. In 2012, twenty-seven States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands used surveys that conformed to the new uniform criteria. From 2013 and beyond all state and territory observational surveys are based on the new criteria.

Data Source

National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, US Department of Transportation, [https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/#!/PublicationList/68]

Definition

Percentage of drivers and front seat passengers observed wearing seat belts

Numerator

Number of drivers and front seat passengers observed wearing seat belts

Denominator

Number of drivers and front seat passengers observed

Other Objectives

'''Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective IVP-7c''': Increase observed seat belt use by drivers and front seat passengers to 100%.

How Are We Doing?

Observed seat belt use by adult front-seat passengers fluctuated between 87.6% and 94.5% over the course of the decade and the Healthy NJ 2020 target of 100% was not achieved.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

New Jersey's seat belt usage rate was consistently above that of the nation as a whole until 2019.

What Is Being Done?

New Jersey's seat belt laws, recommendations, initiatives, and information: [https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-home/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-seat-belts/]

Health Program Information

[https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-highway-traffic-safety-home/ NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety] [https://www.saferoadsforallnj.com/ New Jersey 2020 Strategic Highway Safety Plan]
Page Content Updated On 03/22/2022, Published on 03/22/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 4:06:30 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

Content updated: no date