Nighttime Safety Belt Use
Nighttime Safety Belt Use Texas Traffic Safety Conference Houston, Texas November 19, 2008
National Front Seat Safety Belt Use Rate: 1996-2008
Texas Front Seat Safety Belt Use Rate: 1996-2008 100 92
91
81
82
83
2006
2007
2008
90
90
82
2005
90 84 81 80
77 74
75
74 69
70
79
83 80
71
61 60
50 1996
1998
2000
2002
2003
2004
Safety Belt Use Means Lives Saved
Year
Lives Saved Age 4 and Younger
Lives Saved Age 5 and Older
Additional Lives That Would Have Been Saved @ 100%
2003
447
15,095
6,151
2004
455
15,548
5,874
2005
424
15,688
5,667
2006
427
15,458
5,468
2007
382
15,147
5,024
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Crash Facts, November 2008
For every one percent increase in safety belt use, 25 fewer Texans will be killed in traffic crashes and another 586 will escape serious injury. --NHTSA, 2002
U.S. Fatal Crash Rates—Day vs Night
Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Midnight 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
Percent Belted
Problem at Night
% Belted among fatally injured front seat occupants of passenger vehicles
Slide 7
60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20
Time
Source: FARS 1998-2004
Safety Belt Use Problem at Night
• Belt use rates are daytime use rates • Belt use at night is generally “unknown” • Why has this information been unavailable?
Evaluation/Enforcement Difficulties View of typical night belt observation
Observation Difficulties
Site Selection / Survey Design Dilemmas • Illuminate Roadway Affect Rates Logistics
• Use Lighted Locations Affect Representation
• Traffic Volume • Safety
One Solution
One Solution
Team Effort
Study Results From Other States Connecticut 84.0% 82.0%
83.0%
80.0% 78.0% 76.0%
76.6%
74.0% 72.0% Day
Night
Study Results From Other States New Mexico
Publicized Enforcement
Study Results From Other States Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
70
69 66
Pre Post
% Belted
65
64
60
55
50 Day
Night Time of Day
64
Study Results From Other States Reading, Pennsylvania 59
60
56 55 % Belted
56
Pre Post
50
50
45
40 Day
Night Time of Day
TTI 2008 Nighttime Surveys
-- 4 Cities -Dallas Fort Worth San Antonio El Paso
Used Lighted Daytime CIOT Sites
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in April
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in May
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in June
June Safety Belt Use by Time of Night
Safety Belt Use by Gender
Safety Belt Use Among Drivers by Age
Learned by Experience
• Takes two • Volume is low • Enforcement feasible
Future Considerations
• • • •
Site comparability Time of night Saturation patrol Day / Night statewide
For More Information [email protected] 3135 TAMU Texas Transportation Institute College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845 - 5153
National Front Seat Safety Belt Use Rate: 1996-2008
Texas Front Seat Safety Belt Use Rate: 1996-2008 100 92
91
81
82
83
2006
2007
2008
90
90
82
2005
90 84 81 80
77 74
75
74 69
70
79
83 80
71
61 60
50 1996
1998
2000
2002
2003
2004
Safety Belt Use Means Lives Saved
Year
Lives Saved Age 4 and Younger
Lives Saved Age 5 and Older
Additional Lives That Would Have Been Saved @ 100%
2003
447
15,095
6,151
2004
455
15,548
5,874
2005
424
15,688
5,667
2006
427
15,458
5,468
2007
382
15,147
5,024
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Crash Facts, November 2008
For every one percent increase in safety belt use, 25 fewer Texans will be killed in traffic crashes and another 586 will escape serious injury. --NHTSA, 2002
U.S. Fatal Crash Rates—Day vs Night
Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Midnight 1:00 AM 2:00 AM 3:00 AM 4:00 AM 5:00 AM 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
Percent Belted
Problem at Night
% Belted among fatally injured front seat occupants of passenger vehicles
Slide 7
60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20
Time
Source: FARS 1998-2004
Safety Belt Use Problem at Night
• Belt use rates are daytime use rates • Belt use at night is generally “unknown” • Why has this information been unavailable?
Evaluation/Enforcement Difficulties View of typical night belt observation
Observation Difficulties
Site Selection / Survey Design Dilemmas • Illuminate Roadway Affect Rates Logistics
• Use Lighted Locations Affect Representation
• Traffic Volume • Safety
One Solution
One Solution
Team Effort
Study Results From Other States Connecticut 84.0% 82.0%
83.0%
80.0% 78.0% 76.0%
76.6%
74.0% 72.0% Day
Night
Study Results From Other States New Mexico
Publicized Enforcement
Study Results From Other States Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
70
69 66
Pre Post
% Belted
65
64
60
55
50 Day
Night Time of Day
64
Study Results From Other States Reading, Pennsylvania 59
60
56 55 % Belted
56
Pre Post
50
50
45
40 Day
Night Time of Day
TTI 2008 Nighttime Surveys
-- 4 Cities -Dallas Fort Worth San Antonio El Paso
Used Lighted Daytime CIOT Sites
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in April
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in May
Day / Night Safety Belt Use in June
June Safety Belt Use by Time of Night
Safety Belt Use by Gender
Safety Belt Use Among Drivers by Age
Learned by Experience
• Takes two • Volume is low • Enforcement feasible
Future Considerations
• • • •
Site comparability Time of night Saturation patrol Day / Night statewide
For More Information [email protected] 3135 TAMU Texas Transportation Institute College Station, TX 77843 (979) 845 - 5153
