4. Title and Subtitle
Daytime and Nighttime Seat Belt Use at Selected Sites in New Mexico

5. Report Date
January 2007

6.  Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

M. G. Solomon, N. K. Chaudhary,  D. F. Preusser

8. Performing Organization
Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Preusser Research Group, Inc.
7100 Main Street
Trumbull, CT  06611

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.
NHTSA Contract
DTNH22-98-D-45079

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and
Period Covered
Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

The Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for this project was Linda Cosgrove.

16. Abstract

Observational surveys of seat belt use were conducted at 108 observation sites across New Mexico during both daytime and nighttime hours.  Belt use at night measured 6.2 percentage points lower than daytime.  Belt use was related to sex, vehicle type, road type and population density.  Increasing seat belt usage among occupants traveling at night could substantially lessen injury and fatality rates among passenger vehicle occupants.

17. Key Word

18. Distribution Statement
Document is available to the public through the NHTSA Web site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov and the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA  22161

19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified

20. Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified

21. No.
of Pages

22. Price