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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; U = data unavailable

^aSeat belt use is as of the Fall each year except in 1999 (December), 2001 (June), 2002 (June), 2003 (June), 2004 (June), 2005 (June). Motorcycle helmet use is as of the Fall each year except in 1996 (January), 2002 (June), 2004 (June), and 2005 (June).

^b Beginning in 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) no longer computes an overall light truck belt use estimate. Instead, belt use is computed separately for motorists in: (1) vans and sport utility vehicles, and (2) pickup trucks. Additionally, NHTSA no longer reports seperate statistics for passengers and drivers, except at the overall level.

c Includes pickup trucks, vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles.

^d 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.

2003-04: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2004: Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 809 783 (Washington, DC: 2004), Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2004/809783.pdf as of Oct.15,2004.

2005-06: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2006: Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 810 677 (Washington, DC: 2006), Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-932/images/809932.pdf as of June 8, 2007.

2007: Ibid., Safety Belt Use in 2007: Overall Results, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note DOT HS 810 841 (Washington, DC: 2007), Internet site http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810841.PDF as of May 12, 2008.

Motorcycle helmet use:

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

2000, 2002: Ibid., 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.

2004 : Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2005 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 809 937 (Washington, DC: 2005), http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-937/images/809937.pdf as of Oct. 16, 2006.

2005-06: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006 -- Overall Results, DOT HS 810 678 (Washington, DC: 2006), http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-937/images/809937.pdf as of June 8, 2007.

2007: Ibid., Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2007: Overall Results, DOT HS 810840 (Washington, DC: 2007), Internet site: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810840.PDF as of May 12, 2008.