According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2006 national seat belt rate was 81%.  The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of NHTSA.  It is the only probability-based observational survey of seat belt used in the U.S.  For more information on these demographic results, go to www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html.  The 2006 seat belt rate for the state of Kentucky was 64%, after the passing of the primary seat belt law this year, Kentucky’s seat belt usage rate has already increased to 72% as of July 2007.  All four counties (Butler, Logan, Simpson and Warren) in the Barren River District Health Department’s (BRDHD) seat belt surveillance this year also showed significant increases in seat belt usage over their last surveillance done in 2005.  These increases occurred among males as well as females in every age group with both drivers and passengers. 

In 2005, Logan Countians were buckling up at 54% and after our surveillance this past spring and summer, usage has increased to 66%.  The highest seat belt usage rate this year was 81% with 50+ year old females.  As in previous years, a consistent finding again was that males in the 16-30 year-old age group are still buckling up the least at only 50%, with male truck drivers in every age group buckling up at an even lower rate of 49%.  This means that only about 1 in 2 males are using their seat belts.  Another area of concern is that only 1 out of 2 pre-driving passengers in the 13-19 year-old age group are buckling up.  The chart below shows the tremendous increase in injuries from the pre-driving age to new drivers.  

We also found that only 2 out of 3 motorcyclists are wearing helmets.  Although seat belt usage across the nation is improving, injury statistics from NHTSA show that helmet usage among motorcyclists is declining.  Driver distraction is also becoming more of an issue, especially with respect to cell phone usage.  We found from our surveillance that 16-30 year old female drivers were the highest age group observed using cell phones.

Efforts to improve seat belt usage continue to improve by passing primary seat belt laws, enforcement blitz campaigns and education.  The BRDHD encourages all vehicle occupants to understand the importance of using seat belts as the best protection from serious injury or death while riding in a motor vehicle.  We also encourage more education for our young, inexperienced drivers, especially from parents whom we have found are the biggest influence over their children’s behavior.  It is especially important to encourage this behavior from the time of infant car seat use to the point of obtaining a driver’s license.  If pre-driving attitudes can be influenced starting at a young age, the habit has been developed well before the driving years.  The biggest statement you can make to them by doing this is the fact that you love them and want to keep them safe.  For more information on the BRDHD’s seat belt findings, go to our website at www.barrenriverhealth.org under local stats.