Initiative for       Increasing Seat Belt Use Nationwide National
In his       weekly radio address to the nation on December 28, 1996, President Clinton       asked all Americans to always wear seat belts as a first line of defense       against traffic injuries and fatalities and to always keep children, ages       12 and under, buckled in the back seat where they are safest. On January       23, 1997, the President directed the Secretary of Transportation to       prepare a plan to increase the use of seat belts nationwide.       

The       President directed the Secretary to work with Congress, the states, and       other concerned groups, including the automobile and insurance industries       and safety and consumer groups, to develop the plan. He further directed       that the plan address:       
- state laws that require the use         of seat belts;           
- assistance from the Department of         Transportation to improve these state laws; and           
- a         comprehensive education campaign by the public and private sectors to         help the public understand the need to wear seat belts.       

The       National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as the lead agency       in developing the plan, met with and solicited input from Members of       Congress, other Federal agencies, the states, the private sector,       including automobile manufacturers and insurers, and many other groups and       organizations. The plan presented here is based on their advice and on a       solid foundation of research and practical experience with strategies to       increase seat belt use. 
Crashes Aren't       Accidents 
The vast majority of       all fatal and non-fatal injuries in America, including traffic injuries,       are not acts of fate but are predictable and preventable. Injuries are a       major health care problem and are the leading cause of death for people       age 1 to 42. Fatalities, however, are only a small part of the total       injury picture. For each injury-related death, there are 19       hospitalizations for injury and another 300 injuries that require medical       attention. Every year, one in four Americans will have a potentially       preventable injury serious enough to require medical care. These injuries       account for almost 10 percent of all physician office visits and 38       percent of all hospital emergency department visits. Injury patterns vary       by age group, gender, and cultural group. There are also seasonal and       geographic patterns to injury. Injuries pose a significant drain on the       health care system, incurring huge treatment, acute care, and       rehabilitation costs.       

 Each year, traffic crashes in the United States       claim about 41,000 lives and cost Americans $150 billion in economic       costs, including $17 billion in medical and emergency expenses, lost       productivity, and property loss. Traffic injuries are the leading cause of       injury deaths and the leading cause of all deaths for people ages 6 to 27.       They also are the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities and the third       leading cause of death for all Americans; only cancer and heart attacks       claim more American lives. However, far more people are injured and       survive motor vehicle crashes than die in these crashes. In 1995, for       example, while almost 41,800 persons were killed in traffic crashes, over       3.4 million injuries were documented in police-reported crashes.       

Traffic crashes aren't       "accidents." They are both predictable and preventable. The quickest,       easiest, and most effective way to prevent traffic injuries and fatalities       is to make certain that every vehicle occupant is properly buckled up on       every trip. 
It's Everyone's Problem 
The motor vehicle       injury problem affects all Americans. The cost of personal pain and       suffering, the loss of a loved one, and serious injury to a family member       cannot be measured. Every person in America also bears the economic costs       of motor vehicle crashes — on average, $580 a year. These include the       costs of the emergency response providers, higher medical and insurance       costs, and lost productivity. When individuals don't wear seat belts,       these costs increase considerably because the injuries are more serious.             

Because government at       all levels pays some of the costs of traffic injuries, government at all       levels shares the responsibility to reduce traffic injuries and costs.       Publicly funded health programs and other public services, such as law       enforcement and emergency medical services, are greatly impacted whenever       someone is injured in a motor vehicle crash. According to a 1996 NHTSA       study of 10 states, 24 percent of inpatient hospital costs are paid by       Medicare, Medicaid, and other government sources. NHTSA estimates that if       seat belt usage rates for front seat passengers in automobiles and light       trucks were to increase from the present 68 percent to 85 percent,       Medicare and Medicaid would save $275 million a year. With a 90 percent       use rate, the savings would total $356 million a year!       

Business also incurs       enormous costs from traffic crashes through lost productivity and higher       insurance and medical costs. On-the-job crashes cost employers almost       $22,000 per crash and $110,000 per injury. Traffic crashes on- and       off-the- job cost American business an estimated $55 billion in 1994. It       pays for business to participate in solving this problem.       

The health care       industry shares in the economic burden produced by traffic injuries. Many       health care costs of traffic injuries are either not reimbursed or are       paid with taxpayer dollars.       

Moreover, on average,       hospital charges for an unbelted driver admitted as an inpatient exceed       the inpatient hospital charges of a belted driver by $5,000.       

Insurance premiums       reflect part of the problem. When a person is injured in a motor vehicle       crash, private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, the injured person, or the       victim's family pays. When the person is not properly restrained, everyone       pays more. Insurance companies frequently assume the financial burden of       injuries requiring long term treatment and care and pass the costs on to       customers as higher premiums. If an insurance company is not involved, or       if the coverage is insufficient, eventually some treatment costs are paid       with taxpayer dollars.       

Preventing needless       injuries and deaths requires a commitment to traffic safety at all levels       of government — local, state 1       , and Federal. It also requires the support of partners in private       industry, citizen groups, and nonprofit organizations. Most important,       this problem requires individuals to take personal responsibility for       their own and their family's safety by making certain that everyone is       properly buckled up, every time, on every trip.       

1 References in this report to "states" apply to       all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Indian Nations,       and the United States Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin       Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
America's Experience with Seat Belt       and Child Seat Use 
Seat belts and child       safety seats work. Yet, fewer than 40 percent of both adults and children       who died in traffic crashes were properly restrained.       

Seat belts work. They are the most effective means of       reducing fatalities and serious injuries when traffic crashes occur and       are estimated to save 9,500 lives in America each year. Research has found       that lap/shoulder belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal       injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of       moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. For light truck occupants, seat       belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and       moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.       

 Every 14 seconds someone in America is injured in a       traffic crash and every 12 minutes someone is killed. When a traffic crash       occurs, occupants are still traveling at the vehicle's original speed at       the moment of impact. Just after the vehicle rapidly comes to a complete       stop, unbelted occupants slam into the steering wheel, windshield, or       other parts of the vehicle's interior. Seat belts are effective in       reducing fatalities and injuries caused by this second collision, or       "human collision," when the vehicle's occupants hit some part of the       vehicle interior or other occupants. Seat belts provide the greatest       protection against occupant ejection. In fatal crashes in 1995, only two       percent of restrained passenger car occupants were ejected, compared to 25       percent of unrestrained occupants. Ejection from a vehicle is one of the       most injurious events that can happen to a person in a crash.       Three-quarters of the occupants who are ejected from passenger cars are       killed.       

While the first seat       belts were installed by automobile manufacturers in the 1950s, seat belt       use was very low — only 10-15 percent nationwide — until the early 1980s.       From 1984 through 1987, belt use increased from 14 percent to 42 percent       as a result of the passage of seat belt use laws in 31 states. Then, from       1990 through 1992, belt use increased from 49 percent to 62 percent as a       result of a national effort of highly visible enforcement and public       education.       

Since then, belt use       has risen slowly and some states have struggled to maintain seat belt use       at current levels. In 1996, belt use nationwide was 68 percent, and ranged       across the states from a high of 87 percent in California, to a low of 43       percent in North Dakota. Currently, 49 states, the District of Columbia,       Puerto Rico and all the U.S. Territories have seat belt laws. New       Hampshire is the only exception. (New Hampshire requires seat belt use up       to age 12.) In 38 states, the law provides only for "secondary"       enforcement of seat belt violations, requiring an officer to stop a       violator for another infraction before issuing a citation for failure to       buckle up. Under primary enforcement, a citation can be written whenever a       law enforcement officer observes an unbelted driver or passenger.       Currently, 11 states, the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico, and the District       of Columbia, all have primary (or "standard") enforcement laws. Maryland       recently passed a primary seat belt enforcement law that goes into effect       October 1, 1997. California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, the Virgin       Islands, and the District of Columbia had secondary enforcement laws, but       upgraded their laws to primary enforcement. No state, except the District       of Columbia, has a seat belt use law that assesses driver license penalty       points. The District of Columbia's new law, after a six-month grace period       to educate the public, authorizes the assessment of two penalty points and       a $50 fine for a seat belt use violation. The District's new law covers       all seating positions.       

Seat belt use in the       11 states with primary (standard) seat belt use laws currently averages       about 15 percentage points higher than in states with secondary laws.       California and Louisiana increased their seat belt use rate by 13 and 18       percentage points, respectively, by upgrading their secondary laws to       primary laws. Early reports from Georgia suggest that similar gains will       be achieved. Georgia had a use rate of 53 percent near the end of 1995,       which fell to 51 percent shortly before the change to primary enforcement       on July 1, 1996. After four months of primary enforcement (and despite the       media's and law enforcement's attention on the Olympics during that       period), statewide use was observed at 62 percent.      

To understand why seat       belt use is not higher, it is important to understand who does not use       seat belts. Americans can be classified as non-users, part-time       users, and full-time users.       

Non-users       represent only 5 to 10 percent of the population, but are the most       difficult to convert to seat belt use. High risk drivers are most       typically non-users of seat belts. They are more likely than others       to drive after drinking, to be involved in a serious crash, and are also       the least likely to be responsible for the social and economic       consequences of their behavior. These are the drivers who would benefit       most from using their seat belts. They often appear to believe that seat       belts can cause more harm than good or that government should not mandate       behaviors that affect only them. Non-users come from all segments of       society but are frequently male, less than 30 years of age, unmarried, and       have little or no post-secondary education. They often drive pickup trucks       or sport utility vehicles and live in rural areas.       

 Part-time users are often people who believe       that seat belts reduce the severity of injury in motor vehicle crashes but       who believe that they are not at risk when driving on short, familiar, low       speed trips. Many part-time users think of themselves as full-time users       because they wear their belts when they believe they are at risk of crash       involvement. The greatest gains in seat belt use have been achieved by       increasing the number of situations in which part-time users wear their       seat belts. Since members of this group already believe that seat belts       are beneficial, they may be converted to full-time users through       education, but messages must be presented in new ways so part-time users       will pay attention.       

Almost three-quarters       of Americans say they are full-time users. However, of these,       almost 10 percent acknowledge that they did not use their seat belts on at       least one occasion during the past week and studies have shown that       self-reported seat belt use is 12 to 25 percentage points higher than       observed use. In NHTSA surveys, full-time users say their primary reason       for wearing seat belts is to avoid injury. In NHTSA observational surveys,       the female use rate is 10 percentage points higher than the male use rate.       Overall seat belt use rates are highest in the suburbs, followed by       cities, then rural areas.       

A barrier to       increasing seat belt use is that many state and local leaders do not       understand the linkage of seat belt use to social burdens. The combined       costs to government, health care systems, business, and individuals make       this a community issue that cannot be ignored or underestimated. Sometimes       the failure to recognize that seat belt use reduces deaths, injuries, and       costs resulted in the adoption of secondary belt laws in many states.       Secondary laws often are not enforced vigorously.       

Child safety seats work. Children, especially those       under the age of 5, are vulnerable in collisions because of the size and       shape of their bodies. The child safety seat is designed to spread the       forces of a crash over more of the body for front-facing toddlers, and       cradle the fragile neck and back of the rear-facing infant.       

Child safety seats are       the most effective occupant protection devices used in motor vehicles       today. If used correctly, they are 71 percent effective in reducing       fatalities in children under the age of 5 and 69 percent effective in       reducing the need for hospitalization. Unfortunately, parents and other       care givers too often consider child seats inconvenient, out of their       financial reach, or too difficult to install. Others are uninformed or       misinformed about correct child safety seat use. About 50 percent of       children under age 5 who died in crashes were unrestrained. Of the       remaining 50 percent, 26 percent were in an adult seat belt which does not       provide effective protection for most children under age 5. Others were in       a child restraint system, but had not been restrained properly. In studies       conducted by NHTSA to observe child safety seat misuse, nearly 80 percent       of the child seats observed were misused in one or more ways. In some       cases, the seat was not properly attached to the vehicle; in others, the       child was not appropriately buckled into the seat.       
Seat Belt and Child Safety Seat Use       Outside the United States
Many other countries       have seat belt use rates significantly higher than the United States. For       example, use rates in Canada, Australia, and several Western European       countries exceed 90 percent, while use rates in Great Britain exceed 80       percent. Seat belt use laws in these countries typically allow primary       (standard) enforcement and also cover occupants of light trucks and vans       in addition to automobiles. Fines for noncompliance are generally higher       than in the United States, and some jurisdictions assess demerit points       against driver's licenses for seat belt use law violations. In contrast,       except for the District of Columbia, states in the U.S. do not assess       penalty points for adult seat belt use violations.       

In Europe, some       countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands,       Sweden, and the United Kingdom) have laws that permit child passengers in       the front seat provided they are in a child safety seat or seat belt. This       approach is typical of state laws in the U.S. Other European countries       (Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain) have child       passenger safety laws that require children up to a specified age and       weight to ride in the rear seat. However, some of these countries have       exemptions to these laws that permit children to ride in front passenger       seating positions provided they are in a child safety seat or seat belt.       Foreign child passenger safety laws are often "nationwide" as opposed to       state-by-state as they are in the U.S.       

Belt use rates in       Canada and the U.S. did not differ markedly until the mid-1980s, when       Canadian provinces began implementing comprehensive special traffic       enforcement programs (STEPs). These highly publicized enforcement efforts       achieved belt use rates in the 80 percent range. When Canada decided to       establish a national 95 percent seat belt use goal, provinces amended       their laws to add driver license penalty points. With these penalty point       provisions, seat belt use in Canada has risen to 92 percent for drivers       and 90 percent for front seat passengers.       
Taking Responsibility
It's Easy to Increase Seat Belt Use — All It Takes Is       Everyone       

Click! Buckle up. It's easy and it takes       three seconds. Once a person establishes the habit of wearing seat belts       on every trip, it's usually a habit for life. Examples from businesses,       local communities, states, and many other countries show that seat belt       use can be increased in America.       

Just as the problem of       low seat belt use rates belongs to everyone in America, so does the       solution. Everyone must buckle up properly, on every trip. Only through       the cooperation of all levels of government (Federal, state, and local),       the private sector, interest groups, citizen activists, other interested       parties, and individuals, can the nation increase its use rate. Through       collective partnerships, individuals can be educated and encouraged       to change behavior and assume personal responsibility for themselves and       their families.       

In this partnership,       the Federal Government has a role to play. It can develop the "tools" for       this collective effort, help establish new partnerships, provide formula       and incentive grants, give hands-on assistance when requested, and furnish       examples of model programs that work and that can be replicated       nationwide.       

Many states,       communities, and organizations have helped raise seat belt and child       safety seat use substantially. Their successful methods can be shared and       duplicated. Below are some examples of "best practices":       
- North Carolina's         multi-partnered "Click It or Ticket" provides an excellent example.         North Carolina began this highly visible enforcement program in 1993,         modeled on the successful Canadian STEPs. Seat belt use rose from 65         percent to 83 percent, one of the nation's highest use rates. In the         first two years of "Click It or Ticket," fatal and serious injuries were         reduced by 15 percent, and taxpayers saved more than $100 million in         health care related costs. Nearly every law enforcement agency in the         state participates in the program.           
- The Navajo Nation         Tribal Council passed a seat belt use law in 1988. Tribal enforcement         and awareness activities began that year and expanded in 1992 with a         Federal grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish a Community         Traffic Safety Program to emphasize raising the tribe's seat belt use.         The program combined community-wide education, school-based injury         prevention, Safe Kids coalition programs, and a child safety seat loaner         program. The program also provided for improved traffic records,         defensive driver training, and an impaired driving task force. Navajo         Police undertook aggressive enforcement of the tribe's primary         (standard) occupant protection laws through routine patrols and highly         publicized check-points. By the end of 1995, surveys showed that low         belt use on the reservation (initially measured at 8 percent) soared to         78 percent for the Navajo people, and there was a 50 percent drop in         hospital admissions. Tribal employees operating government vehicles are         now buckling up 100 percent of the time.           
- The United Parcel         Service (UPS) boasts a solid traffic safety record. With more than         84,000 drivers nationwide, UPS has a zero tolerance policy for unsafe         driver behavior behind the wheel. As part of its defensive driving         program, based on establishing good driver habits, UPS instructs its         drivers that if the wheels are in motion, the driver must be secured         with a seat belt — even if the vehicle is moving just a few feet.         Three decades ago, UPS made a conscious decision to install seat belts         in its vehicles to protect its drivers. As a result of UPS'         comprehensive driver training program, wearing seat belts has become a         habit among UPS employees. Since the inception of UPS' commitment to         seat belt usage and other safe driving habits, fatal injury and crash         rates have declined steadily.         
-  Everyone Can Participate  Everyone in America         can participate in this national effort to save lives and prevent         injuries by buckling up properly on every trip. While it is ultimately         the responsibility of the individual to buckle up and to ensure that all         children in a motor vehicle are properly restrained, there is also a         role for many groups and organizations, both public and private, to         provide the tools that will help get non-users and part-time users into         the healthy habit. The following lists examples of participants and the         kinds of roles they can adopt:           President: As the nation's Chief Executive,         the President can provide overall leadership for seat belt use and bring         together leaders of the public and private sectors, media, national         organizations, and others to concentrate their energy and resources         toward a single goal and mission. The President can urge Congress to         support and fund policies to advance seat belt use, energize new         partners, and re-energize existing partners by setting the tone and         supporting a national effort.           Congress:         The         Senate and House of Representatives can provide funding and establish         programs that encourage states to adopt legislation and to educate the         public on the importance of proper seat belt and child safety seat use.                   DOT         Secretary: The Secretary of Transportation can         provide vision and administer overall seat belt and child safety seat         programs; dedicate staff for program development, implementation, and         evaluation; provide funding to states (under the Highway Safety Act of         1966, as amended, 23 U.S.C. �� 402 and 403); promote public/private         partnerships; and provide leadership to other Federal agencies.           Federal         Agencies: Federal agencies can promote seat         belt use with their employees and constituents.           States: States can build partnerships and         develop strategies to pass and visibly enforce primary (standard) seat         belt enforcement laws and comprehensive child passenger safety laws.         States can support and coordinate effective seat belt and child safety         seat public education.           National         Organizations and Coalitions: Groups such as Advocates for         Highway and Auto Safety, Air Bag Safety Campaign, American College of         Emergency Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Coalition         for Traffic Safety, International Association of Chiefs of Police,         National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives,         National Governors' Association, Network of Employers for Traffic         Safety, Parent Teacher Association, and others can provide valuable         technical assistance and resources. They can build constituent efforts         and partnerships, advocate strengthened laws and increased enforcement,         and provide education at the state and local level.           Law         Enforcement: The strong support of law         enforcement agencies nationwide is essential for success. Law         enforcement leadership must encourage and be supportive of officers         enforcing occupant protection laws. The public must be supportive of law         enforcement officers.           Business: Many businesses already have made         major contributions toward increasing seat belt use — from local         businesses to major international corporations. As a group, business is         respected by Congress, state legislatures, community governments, and         private citizens, and wields influence in determining legislative,         economic, and commercial priorities. Business can promote the "healthy         habit" through a wide variety of strategies and is an essential partner         in collective efforts.           Media: The media and other public and         private communication outlets have made the public aware of the dangers         of not being properly restrained and can assist in changing behaviors.         Recently, the media have reported heavily upon the several dozen persons         killed by air bags to educate the public about the potential dangers of         these devices. The media can do the same in other areas to highlight the         thousands of persons killed each year through failure to use seat belts         and child safety seats, or to use them properly. The media can also help         publicize state and local law enforcement efforts.           Sports         Organizations and Athletes: Athletes from professional,         college, school, and neighborhood sports teams can serve as role models         and set examples by being seat belt wearers. Sports teams can promote         seat belt use through a variety of venues, such as special activities,         media events, arena programs, signs, and announcements.           Health         Care Professionals: Doctors, nurses, and other         medical, emergency, and health care professionals add their unique         perspective to the problem. They can use their experience, knowledge,         and professional reputations to educate Congress, state legislators, the         media, patients, and the general public about the dangers of not         buckling up and not using child restraints properly.           Prosecutors and Judges: The judicial system is an integral         part of increasing seat belt and child safety seat use. The court system         must support law enforcement officers who cite individuals for         noncompliance of belt laws or who put their children at risk by not         properly restraining them. As officers of the court, prosecutors and         judges can send a firm message to the public that seat belt and child         restraint laws are important.           Educators: Youth are both the problem, with         very low seat belt use rates, and the solution. Proper seat belt use         habits, if established when individuals are young, will likely last a         lifetime. Educators can be effective in teaching and reinforcing seat         belt use habits.  
New       National Goals
America must set       ambitious seat belt and child safety seat use goals. We have an       unprecedented opportunity to save lives, prevent injuries, reduce health       care and other costs, and improve the lives of all Americans — simply by       increasing proper seat belt and child safety seat use. But to do this, we       must be bold and reach beyond "business as usual." Bold goals will require       commitment and cooperation from everyone living in the United States.       America can do it.       
- Increase national seat belt use         to 85% by 2000 and 90% by 2005 (from 68% in 1996)           
- Reduce child occupant fatalities         (0-4 years) by 15% in 2000 and by 25% in 2005 (from a total of 685         in 1995) 

Reaching these goals       would result in significant reductions in deaths, injuries, and their       economic costs to society. Increasing the seat belt use rate from the       current 68 percent (1996) to 85 percent would prevent an estimated 4,194       fatalities and 102,518 injuries annually. This reduction in injuries and       deaths would result in an economic savings of approximately $6.7 billion       annually (1996 dollars). Increasing the seat belt use rate from the       current 68 percent to 90 percent would prevent an estimated 5,536       fatalities and 132,670 injuries annually, and would save $8.8 billion       annually.
The       National Strategy
The National Strategy       presents a collaborative, cooperative four point plan to achieve the       ambitious national goals of increasing seat belt and child safety seat       use. Individuals must take responsibility for themselves and for their       child passengers by making certain everyone in the vehicle is properly       buckled up — every time and on every trip. It will, however, take the       collective efforts of many people and many organizations to ensure that       every person in America has the knowledge and tools to make the right       choice and to take personal responsibility. The National Strategy has a       role for everyone and builds on the considerable activities, funding, and       resources already committed by many different organizations to this common       cause.       
The Four Point Plan
The plan to increase       seat belt use in America has four elements that, when implemented       together, have proven to be effective in increasing seat belt use. The       first element is the most important: We must join together to build the       public-private partnerships necessary to help America reach its       potential to save lives and prevent injuries through the use of seat belts       and child safety seats. In addition, each state must enact strong       legislation and embrace active, high visibility law       enforcement. Finally, all public and private partners must conduct       well-coordinated, effective public education. These strategies       work.       

Point       1. To       reach our goals, we will need to build public-private partnerships       at the local, state, and federal levels. The problem is too big for any       one group or coalition to tackle alone; no one of us is as effective as       all of us are together. While it is the individual who must ultimately       take responsibility to buckle up and safely secure all children riding in       the vehicle, it is the responsibility of a great many to encourage, enact,       enforce, and inform.       

Driving is a privilege       that comes with responsibilities. Through public-private partnerships, we       can collectively address the seat belt non-use problem and establish a       national attitude that wearing seat belts and using child safety seats is       the expected behavior in America. Partnerships can coordinate and execute       efforts that will weave the seat belt message into America's consciousness       — in the home, throughout hometowns, at school, in the workplace, on the       road, at recreational sites, and in the media. Public and private sector       organizations can join together to set the tone and serve as models who       demonstrate that we are a nation that cares about children, families, good       health, and well-being. By framing passenger protection as a health issue,       public-private partnerships can reach millions of individuals with correct       and helpful information, and can encourage seat belt part-time and       non-users to make the right decision and buckle up.       

There are, and have       been, many strong partnerships over the past 10 years that have worked to       increase seat belt and child safety seat use in America. Many public and       private organizations have contributed funding and in-kind resources and       have worked together to achieve our Nation's current 68 percent seat belt       use rate. In communities across the country, businesses have joined with       service groups, law enforcement agencies, citizen activists, county       engineers, schools, and others to increase local use rates. States have       formed statewide seat belt coalitions, distributed information, passed and       enforced laws, and developed strategies for increasing usage. Large       businesses have taken on the issue because it is cost effective and it       makes sense. Now it is time to energize existing partners and bring on new       ones to assist in meeting the national goals. New ideas, new resources,       additional energy, and additional partners are needed.       

It will, however, take       more than marketing a healthier lifestyle to get hard core seat belt       non-wearers, and those who fail to secure their children properly in motor       vehicles, to take responsibility. Additional strategies are needed.       

Point       2. The       second component of the National Strategy is for states to enact strong       legislation by adopting primary (standard) seat belt laws and closing       the gaps in child passenger safety laws. Under primary enforcement laws, a       citation can be written whenever a law enforcement officer observes an       unbelted driver or passenger. In states with secondary laws, an officer       can issue a citation only after the driver is stopped or cited for some       other infraction. Child passenger safety laws should cover every child (up       to age 16), in every seating position, in every passenger vehicle.       Currently, although every state has a child passenger safety law, some       laws include only very young children, some cover only the front seat, and       some exempt pickup trucks and vans.       

Point       3. The       National Strategy's third component is to conduct active,       high-visibility enforcement of seat belt laws to achieve higher seat       belt use rates. Experience has shown that, after seat belt laws pass, use       rates rise because of the public's perception that they must buckle up.       However, if the laws are not actively enforced, use rates drop. Seat belt       use laws need to be enforced in the same way that other traffic       infractions are, like speeding or running a red light.       

 Another benefit of increased traffic enforcement, in       addition to saving lives and dollars, is a measurable reduction in crime.       Active, highly visible traffic enforcement provides a major opportunity to       catch criminals. Because most criminals drive to and from crime scenes, it       is not surprising that as many as one-third of criminal apprehensions       occur as part of traffic stops. Nor is it surprising that high intensity       law enforcement programs, such as those conducted in North Carolina and       Tennessee, result in a large number of criminal apprehensions and       recoveries of stolen property.       

A variety of seat belt       enforcement approaches are encouraged to fit a community's needs. Examples       include ticketing, conducting checkpoints, safety checks, child safety       seat clinics, and officers serving as role models by wearing their own       seat belts. Active enforcement is a must. In addition, law enforcement       must take every opportunity to educate the public about the importance of       seat belts, child safety seats, and always seating children in the back       seat of motor vehicles.       

No child should be       allowed to ride unrestrained in a vehicle. To ensure that children ride       safely, law enforcement should take action on every child passenger safety       law violation they see. Enforcing child passenger safety laws does not       require extensive training on correct use. An officer needs only to       observe a child who is at risk and do something about it. Sometimes       officers believe that if a family cannot afford to purchase a child seat,       they should not add to the family's burden by giving them a ticket with a       fine. But other options are available. An officer can use a stop as an       educational opportunity. The officer can refer the adult to a low-cost or       "loaner" child safety seat program, or refer the adult to a local child       passenger safety assistance program for technical advice if there is a       misuse problem.       

Point       4. The       fourth component of the National Strategy is to expand effective public       education on the benefits of seat belt and child safety seat use and       the requirements of seat belt and child safety seat use laws. Public       education may include a broad range of activities such as high visibility       enforcement campaigns, promotional events, and community-based       initiatives, but these activities must be well planned and well       coordinated.       

To educate the public       about the dangers of not using or misusing seat belts and child safety       seats, efforts can range from national campaigns, such as "Vince and       Larry" (designed by the Ad Council), to inclusion of passenger safety       information in state driver licensing booklets, instructional programs in       schools and the workplace, and one-on-one opportunities delivered by       health care professionals or child care workers. The crucial element is       that the public receives a single, simple message, but receives it often       and in many different ways.       
Specific Activities to Implement the       National Strategy To Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide The President
The       President is taking immediate action to support the National Strategy and       new goals by:       
- Establishing the         National Strategy for increasing motor vehicle seat belt and child         safety seat use as an Administration priority           
- Issuing a new         Executive Order directing all agencies to: require on-the-job seat belt         use for all Federal employees; directing the Department of Defense (DOD)         and the National Park Service to institute programs and policies to         increase seat belt use on DOD installations and in national park areas;         encouraging Tribal Governments to adopt programs and policies for         highways on Tribal lands; and encouraging government contractors,         subcontractors, and grantees to institute on-the-job seat belt use         programs and policies for their employees           
- Asking all         Americans to take responsibility for their own safety and their family's         safety by making certain that everyone is properly buckled up, on every         trip 
Congress
To       assist citizens, communities, and states to increase their seat belt and       child safety seat use rates, and to provide them the tools they need,       Members of Congress should:       
- Enact and fully         fund Section 2002 (m) of the Administration's National Economic         Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997 (NEXTEA) which provides         incentive grants to states for improving their occupant protection         programs or their seat belt use rates; and Section 11006 of the Surface         Transportation Safety Act of 1997 which provides for a transfer of a         certain percentage of a state's highway construction funds to safety         programs, beginning in FY 2003, if the state fails to enact primary seat         belt laws or fails to reach specified seat belt use levels           
- Fully fund the         occupant protection portions of the Department of Transportation's         fiscal year 1998 budget request           
- Advocate seat belt         and child safety seat use publicly and with constituents           
- Actively support         and become involved in coalitions of businesses and national         organizations to advance seat belt and child safety seat education,         legislation, and enforcement 
Federal AgenciesAll Federal agencies       will: - Implement the         President's Executive Order which directs all agencies to require         on-the-job seat belt use for all Federal employees; directs the         Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Park Service to institute         programs and policies to increase seat belt use on DOD installations and         in national park areas; encourages Tribal Governments to adopt programs         and policies for highways on Tribal lands; and encourages government         contractors, subcontractors, and grantees to institute on-the-job seat         belt use programs and policies for their employees           
- Provide information         annually to the Department of Transportation on seat belt use rates and         statistics of crashes, injuries, and related costs involving Federal         employees           
- Promote proper seat         belt and child safety seat use in regular activities with constituents         
Some Departments will do       more: Department of       Transportation       
Secretary of       Transportation       
- Establish seat belt         and child safety seat use as a top DOT priority           
- Direct all DOT         modes to promote seat belt and child safety seat use with constituents                   
- Promote seat belt         and child safety seat use in speeches and through media events           
- Conduct a         public/private round table to enlist corporate America's support           
- Praise states, such         as the District of Columbia, when they enact new primary seat belt laws                   
- Develop a model         employee program of education, awareness, and data collection and         transfer the model program to other agencies           
- Conduct national         and regional Moving Kids Safely conferences to develop and strengthen         intermodal and public/private partnerships 
National Highway Traffic Safety       Administration, in Cooperation with Other Modal Administrations       - Promote seat belt         and child safety seat use with constituents and partner organizations                   
- Provide assistance         to states seeking to enact or strengthen seat belt and child passenger         safety legislation           
- Provide financial         support and technical assistance to states to support their efforts to         actively and visibly enforce their seat belt and child passenger safety         laws through expanded special traffic enforcement programs (STEP)           
- Encourage increased         participation by private and nonprofit partners to work with the agency,         or as part of a coalition, to increase seat belt and child safety seat         use           
- Assist states to         link crash, cost, and injury data           
- Work with the         Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) program and other         employer groups to encourage additional employers to adopt seat belt use         policies and programs           
- Participate in         building 200 additional Safe Communities (local programs that reduce         fatalities, injuries, and associated costs) annually 
States 
States can take direct action to       protect their citizens and reduce the costs of injuries to unrestrained       occupants. States should:       
- Meet or exceed the         National Goals of 85% seat belt use by the year 2000 and 90% by 2005                   
- Ensure strong         support and participation from state leadership           
- Build         public-private partnerships to develop and execute statewide strategies                   
- Adopt primary         (standard) seat belt enforcement laws and comprehensive child passenger         safety laws to ensure coverage of all children up to age 16           
- Support active,         highly visible occupant protection law enforcement efforts           
- Assess meaningful         penalties for seat belt and child safety seat violations           
- Provide resources         for enforcement of seat belt and child passenger safety laws           
- Support and         coordinate public information and education programs           
- Establish motor         vehicle crash, injury, and cost data bases to quantify problems and         measure success           
- Ensure the         availability of child safety seats for every child and provide technical         support to ensure that children are properly positioned in correctly         installed safety seats 
Selected Activities:             - Participate in the         Air Bag Safety Campaign's Spring Mobilization and other national efforts         (e.g., Buckle Up, America! and Child Passenger Safety         Week)           
- Provide law         enforcement training and technical assistance (e.g., peer-to-peer, Chief         Challenges, recognitions)           
- Conduct annual seat         belt use surveys to measure program success           
- Work with law         enforcement organizations to include seat belt and child safety seat use         and enforcement training as part of standardized law enforcement         curricula           
- Sponsor prosecutor         and judicial training to educate prosecutors and judges on the         enforcement and adjudication issues regarding seat belt and child safety         seat laws           
- Conduct educational         activities with state and local elected officials and their state         organizations           
- Encourage and         assist in the development of Safe Community coalitions 
National Organizations and       Coalitions
Many       national organizations and coalitions already support seat belt and child       safety seat legislation, enforcement, and education. All organizations       should:       
- Adopt seat belt and         child safety seat use policies for their employees and encourage their         members to do the same           
- Support primary         (standard) seat belt use laws and comprehensive child passenger safety         laws to ensure coverage of all children up to age 16           
- Support strong         enforcement of occupant protection laws           
- Assist in educating         their constituencies on the importance of correct, full time seat belt         and child safety seat use 
Selected Activities:             - Join in coalitions         with other national organizations to advance seat belt and child safety         seat education, legislation, and enforcement           
- Contact private         sector businesses and other local, state, and national organizations to         provide information and recruit their involvement, and speak to         executive board annual meetings about the importance of passenger         protection           
- Identify needs         among members and partners for child safety seat training; provide         training materials as needed; establish delivery mechanisms           
- Identify target         groups, determine outreach methods, and produce appropriate resource         materials (NHTSA can provide technical assistance) 
Business 
Businesses have a crucial role to play       in increasing proper seat belt and child safety seat use. They also will       realize substantial benefits through decreased crash injury costs to their       employees and their families.Businesses should:       
- Support primary         (standard) enforcement seat belt use laws and comprehensive child         passenger safety laws to ensure coverage of all children up to age 16                   
- Support strong         enforcement of seat belt and child passenger safety laws           
- Implement seat belt         use policies and programs for their employees and their families           
- Communicate seat         belt and child safety seat use messages to their customers           
- Join in coalitions         with other businesses and national organizations (or affiliates) to         advance seat belt and child safety seat education, legislation, and         enforcement           
- Contribute         resources (both direct funding and in-kind services) to support outreach         activities and public information and education efforts 
Selected Activities:             - Join Safe Community         coalitions           
- Join with         government and national organizations in a broad-based occupant         protection campaign and recruit additional participants           
- Determine similar         companies that have effective seat belt use policies and programs; set         goals for company policies and programs; provide awards and recognition         for outstanding employees, work teams, or divisions 
Media 
Media       organizations have a responsibility and a special role to play. The media       should:       
- Implement seat belt         use policies and programs for their employees and their employees'         families           
- Help educate the         public on the benefits of proper, full time seat belt and child safety         seat use and the consequences of non-use           
- Publicize state and         community seat belt and child passenger safety enforcement efforts                   
- Indicate in stories         about crashes whether seat belts and child safety seats were properly         used 
Selected Activities:             - Request that all         major television and radio networks develop and implement effective         policies for reporting and illustrating seat belt and child safety seat         use in news and entertainment programming           
- Establish periodic         monitoring and reporting of media practices with recognition for         exemplary performance           
- Serve on local task         forces to assist in community efforts           
- Request that on-air         traffic reporters include seat belt and child safety seat messages         during their on-going reporting 
Sports Participants and       Organizations 
Sports organizations and teams at all       levels (professional, college, school, and neighborhood) can promote the       use of seat belts. Athletes can serve as role models and spokespersons.       Sports organizations, teams, and individual athletes       should:       
- Implement seat belt         use policies and programs for their employees, their families, and their         fans to promote a healthy lifestyle           
- Participate in         national, state, and local seat belt and child safety seat campaigns.         
Selected Activities:             - Promote seat belt         and child safety seat use through special events and media participation                   
- Champion safety         through announcements, electronic scoreboards, signs, buttons, and         promotional items           
- Sponsor "Buckle Up"         promotions at games           
- Establish ongoing         arena seat belt programs including parking lot promotions and signs                   
- Join Safe Community         coalitions 
Communities
Most       education and law enforcement takes place in our cities, counties, towns,       and villages. Communities should:       
- Meet or exceed the         National Goals of 85% seat belt use by the year 2000 and 90% by 2005                   
- Seek leadership and         participation from mayors, councils, boards, and other local officials                   
- Implement seat belt         use policies for all public employees           
- Support traffic         enforcement as one of their best investments in public safety           
- Publicize state         passenger protection laws and local ordinances           
- Establish a Safe         Community coalition 
Selected Activities:             - Encourage health         care providers to assist in delivering passenger safety messages during         health care visits           
- Educate child care         providers on how to transport children safely and provide information on         proper seat belt and child safety seat use for distribution                 
- Participate in         International Association of Chiefs of Police or other Chief Challenges                   
- Execute coordinated         public information and education efforts relating to seat belts and         child safety seats           
- Provide seat belt         and child safety seat training for school health/safety officials and         educators           
- Encourage         prosecutors and judges to send a firm message to the public that seat         belt and child restraint laws are important           
- Encourage schools         to teach children of all ages proper traffic safety practices, including         seat belt and child safety seat use           
- Organize child         safety seat loaner programs and provide technical assistance to ensure         that children are properly positioned in correctly installed safety         seats           
- Require students         who park on school property to use seat belts and monitor results           
- Conduct child         safety seat clinics at preschools, restaurants, shopping area parking         lots, and other locations where young children in safety seats are         likely to visit 
Private Citizens
Ultimately, it is       the individual who must take responsibility for his or her own behavior.       Since young children are unable to protect themselves, parents and care       givers are responsible for transporting children safely. Every person       living in America should:       
- Buckle up — every         time, every trip           
- Properly secure         every child in a vehicle in a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat         belt appropriate for the child's age and weight           
- Place children in         the safest place in a vehicle — the back seat           
- Never put a rear         facing child seat (the kind used for infants) in the front seat of a car         with an air bag           
- Seek assistance if         unsure about the correct way to secure a child in a safety seat or about         the proper installation of a safety seat into a vehicle 
Reporting and       Recognition
The Department of       Transportation will coordinate and monitor progress of the National       Strategy and will issue an Annual Report to the President each year by       March 1. This report will include seat belt use rates and crash       statistics. It will also report on seat belt use rates, crashes, injuries,       and related costs involving Federal employees on official business and       occupants of motor vehicles driven on Federal lands. Specific programs       that have made significant progress, or are notable and deserving of       recognition, will be identified.       
Funding
As is appropriate for       a National Strategy in which everyone has a role, funding comes from many       sources. States and communities make substantial expenditures to enforce       their passenger protection laws and to educate the public about seat belt       and child safety seat use. The private sector has also contributed       substantially toward education, legislation, and enforcement activities to       increase seat belt use. In particular, members of the Air Bag Safety       Campaign will contribute over $14 million toward the Campaign during its       first two years, and many individual companies are conducting additional       activities at their own expense. Virtually every highway safety       organization in America is participating actively in this effort. The       benefits that these organizations receive, in reduced traffic injuries,       fatalities, and economic costs, will far exceed their expenditures. The       level of voluntary commitment and funding that currently exists must       continue.       

The Federal Government       has done, and will continue to do, its part. Specific funds to increase       seat belt and child safety seat use are included in the Department of       Transportation's FY 1998 budget request and the Department's       reauthorization proposal. In FY 1998, the Department has requested $10.184       million for occupant protection activities and an additional $9 million       for occupant protection incentive grants to states. The Department of       Transportation's reauthorization proposal includes $20 million in each of       the years FY 1998-2001 and $22 million for each of the years FY 2002-2003       for state occupant protection incentive grants. It is expected that       states, annually, will allocate more than $20 million of the funds they       receive from the Department of Transportation's Section 402 traffic safety       grants for occupant protection activities. 
President Executive       Order[Federal Register: April 18, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 75)][Presidential Documents][Page 19215-19218]From the Federal Register On-line via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov][DOCID:fr18ap97-146][[Page 19215]]Part VThe PresidentExecutive Order 13043--Increasing Seat Belt Use in the United States                        Presidential DocumentsTitle 3--The President[[Page 19217]]                Executive Order 13043 of April 16, 1997                Increasing Seat Belt Use in the United States                By the authority vested in me as President by the                Constitution and the laws of the United States of                America, including the Highway Safety Act of 1966, 23                U.S.C. 402 and 403, as amended, section 7902(c) of                title 5, United States Code, and section 19 of the                Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C.                668, as amended, and in order to require that Federal                employees use seat belts while on official business; to                require that motor vehicle occupants use seat belts in                national park areas and on Department of Defense                (``Defense'') installations; to encourage Tribal                Governments to adopt and enforce seat belt policies and                programs for occupants of motor vehicles traveling on                highways in Indian Country; and to encourage Federal                contractors, subcontractors, and grantees to adopt and                enforce on-the-job seat belt use policies and programs,                it is hereby ordered as follows:                Section 1. Policies. (a) Seat Belt Use by Federal                Employees. Each Federal employee occupying any seating                position of a motor vehicle on official business, whose                seat is equipped with a seat belt, shall have the seat                belt properly fastened at all times when the vehicle is                in motion.                    (b) Seat Belt Use in National Parks and on Defense                Installations. Each operator and passenger occupying                any seating position of a motor vehicle in a national                park area or on a Defense installation, whose seat is                equipped with a seat belt or child restraint system,                shall have the seat belt or child restraint system                properly fastened, as required by law, at all times                when the vehicle is in motion.                    (c) Seat Belt Use by Government Contractors,                Subcontractors and Grantees. Each Federal agency, in                contracts, subcontracts, and grants entered into after                the date of this order, shall seek to encourage                contractors, subcontractors, and grantees to adopt and                enforce on-the-job seat belt policies and programs for                their employees when operating company-owned, rented,                or personally owned vehicles.                    (d) Tribal Governments. Tribal Governments are                encouraged to adopt and enforce seat belt policies and                programs for occupants of motor vehicles traveling on                highways in Indian Country that are subject to their                jurisdiction.                Sec. 2. Scope of Order. All agencies of the executive                branch are directed to promulgate rules and take other                appropriate measures within their existing programs to                further the policies of this order. This includes, but                is not limited to, conducting education, awareness, and                other appropriate programs for Federal employees about                the importance of wearing seat belts and the                consequences of not wearing them. It also includes                encouraging Federal contractors, subcontractors, and                grantees to conduct such programs. In addition, the                National Park Service and the Department of Defense are                directed to initiate rulemaking to consider regulatory                changes with respect to enhanced seat belt use                requirements and standard (primary) enforcement of such                requirements in national park areas and on Defense                installations, consistent with the policies outlined in                this order, and to widely publicize and actively                enforce such regulations. The term ``agency'' as used                in this order means an Executive department, as defined                in 5 U.S.C. 101, or any employing unit or authority of                the Federal Government, other than those of the                legislative and judicial branches.                Sec. 3. Coordination. The Secretary of Transportation                shall provide leadership and guidance to the heads of                executive branch agencies to assist them[[Page 19218]]                with the employee seat belt programs established                pursuant to this order. The Secretary of Transportation                shall also cooperate and consult with the legislative                and judicial branches of the Government to encourage                and help them to adopt seat belt use programs.                Sec. 4. Reporting Requirements. The Secretary of                Transportation, in cooperation with the heads of                executive branch agencies, and after consultation with                the judicial and legislative branches of Government,                shall submit an annual report to the President. The                report shall include seat belt use rates and statistics                of crashes, injuries, and related costs involving                Federal employees on official business and occupants of                motor vehicles driven in national park areas, on                Defense installations, and on highways in Indian                Country. The report also shall identify specific agency                programs that have made significant progress towards                achieving the goals of this order or are notable and                deserving of recognition. All agencies of the executive                branch shall provide information to, and otherwise                cooperate with, the Secretary of Transportation to                assist with the preparation of the annual report.                Sec. 5. Other Powers and Duties. Nothing in this order                shall be construed to impair or alter the powers and                duties of the heads of the various Federal agencies                pursuant to the Highway Safety Act of 1966, 23 U.S.C.                402 and 403, as amended, section 19 of the Occupational                Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 668, as                amended, or sections 7901, 7902, and 7903 of title 5,                United States Code, nor shall it be construed to affect                any right, duty, or procedure under the National Labor                Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.                Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Executive Order 12566                of September 26, 1986, is revoked. To the extent that                this order is inconsistent with any provisions of any                prior Executive order, this order shall control.                    (b) If any provision of this order or application                of any such provision is held to be invalid, the                remainder of this order and other applications of such                provision shall not be affected.                    (c) Nothing in this order shall be construed to                create a new cause of action against the United States,                or to alter in any way the United States liability                under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671-2680.                    (d) The Secretary of Defense shall implement the                provisions of this order insofar as practicable for                vehicles of the Department of Defense.                    (e) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney                General, consistent with their protective and law                enforcement responsibilities, shall determine the                extent to which the requirements of this order apply to                the protective and law enforcement activities of their                respective agencies.                    (Presidential Sig.)                THE WHITE HOUSE,                     April 16, 1997.[FR Doc. 97-10331Filed 4-17-97; 11:04 am]Billing code 3195-01-P