Belt Use Laws in the USA - Some Trends and Observations

The New York effort leading up to enactment of the first belt use law in the USA is outlined with some attention devoted to the legislative strategy. Several specific problems which featured in the debate are discussed briefly.

Early results on increased belt use and public acceptance of the law are encouraging. The first month's reduced fatality count suggests that the law is having some effect.

Implications of the New York law for other states and for the recent federal decision on FMVSS 208 are described. Emphasis is placed on the fact that belt use laws must be vigorously pursued as complementary to decisions related to automatic crash protection.