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Table 2-29: Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Use (percent)^a

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KEY: N = data do not exist.

^aSeat belt use is of Fall each year except in 1999 (December), 2001 (June), and 2002 (June). Motorcycle helmet use is of Fall each year except in 2002 (June).

^b Includes pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.

^c In 1994, operators and riders were counted as helmeted if wearing any type of helmet. Since then, only those operators and riders wearing safety helmets that met U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards were counted. Those safety helmets that do not meet DOT standards were treated as if the operator/rider were not wearing a helmet.

NOTE

Occupants of commercial and emergency vehicles are excluded.

SOURCES

Safety belt use:

1994-2002: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 1, Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2002/809-500.pdf as of January 2003. Data are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS).

Motorcycle helmet use:

1994-98: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Research Note, Observed Safety Belt Use in 1998 (Washington, DC: September 1999), Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/1999/98obbelt.html as of January 2003, table 3.

2000, 2002: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety Belt and Helmet Use in 2002 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 500 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 6, Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2002/809-500.pdf as of January 2003. Data are from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS).