The NHTSA Program of Safety Belt Research

Increasing the use of safety belts and child safety seats in motor vehicles is one of the most important public health goals of the nation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a research program designed to increase use of restraints. In addition to tracking usage levels and trends -- both nationally and in connection with specific projects -- the program explores relevant motivational factors, assesses the relative effectiveness of various incentive and education approaches, and development of specially designed approaches for critical target audiences. Preliminary results are encouraging and indicate high potential for increasing voluntary belt use.