CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Use of Safety Belts: Primary (vs. Secondary) Enforcement Laws
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Primary safety belt laws allow police to stop motorists solely for being unbelted. Secondary safety belt laws permit police to ticket unbelted motorists only if they are stopped for other reasons such as speeding.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends primary safety belt laws based on strong evidence of their superior effectiveness over secondary enforcement laws in reducing motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends primary safety belt laws based on strong evidence of their superior effectiveness over secondary enforcement laws in reducing motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths.
Results / Accomplishments
Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Thirteen studies qualified for the systematic review.
• Nine studies compared states with primary laws to those with secondary laws.
• Four studies evaluated the effect of changing from secondary to primary laws.
• Fatal injuries: median decrease of 8% in primary law states versus secondary law states (interquartile intervals: 3%-14% decrease; 5 studies)
• Observed seat belt use: median increase of 14 percentage points in primary law states versus secondary law states (interquartile intervals: 12 to 23 percentage points; 5 studies)
• Police-reported safety belt use: the effect estimate could not be calculated (1 study)
• Self-reported safety belt use: the effect estimate could not be calculated (2 studies)
Thirteen studies qualified for the systematic review.
• Nine studies compared states with primary laws to those with secondary laws.
• Four studies evaluated the effect of changing from secondary to primary laws.
• Fatal injuries: median decrease of 8% in primary law states versus secondary law states (interquartile intervals: 3%-14% decrease; 5 studies)
• Observed seat belt use: median increase of 14 percentage points in primary law states versus secondary law states (interquartile intervals: 12 to 23 percentage points; 5 studies)
• Police-reported safety belt use: the effect estimate could not be calculated (1 study)
• Self-reported safety belt use: the effect estimate could not be calculated (2 studies)
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Community / Governance
Community / Transportation
Community / Governance
Community / Transportation
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults