Contents
Executive Summary 7
1. Introduction 8
2. Demographic Results 9
Age 9
Gender 10
Race 11
Presence of Passengers and Seat Belt Use 11
3. Seat Belt Use in Rear Seats 13
Seat Belt Use in Rear Seats Versus in Front Seats 13
State Laws and Rear-Seat Belt Use 14
4. Child Restraint Use 16
Child Restraint Use Among All Children Age Under 8 16
Child Rear Seat Placement 16
Child Restraint Use by Region 17
Child Restraint Use by Time of Week 18
Child Restraint Use by Vehicle Type 19
Child Restraint Use by Driver Belt Status 19
5. NOPUS Methodology 23
Sample Design 23
Data Collection 24
Estimation 25
6. References 26
Appendix: Definitions 27
Table 1. Passenger Vehicle Occupant Seat Belt Use by Demographic and Other Characteristics 12
Table 2. States With Laws Requiring Seat Belts Be Used in All Seating Positions 14
Table 3. Seat Belt Use in the Rear Seat of Passenger Vehicles, by Major Characteristics 15
Table 4. States With Laws Requiring Children 5 and Younger Be in the Rear Seat 17
Table 5. Child Restraint Use in Passenger Motor Vehicles, by Major Characteristics 20
Table 6. The Percent of Children Who Rode in the Rear Seat, by Major Characteristics 21
Table 7. Child Restraint Use in Passenger Motor Vehicles, by Age and Other Characteristics 22
Table 8. Sites, Vehicles and Occupants in the 2011 NOPUS 24
Figure 1. Seat Belt Use by Age for Occupants 8 and Older in 2011 and 2012 9
Figure 2. Seat Belt Use by Age for Occupants 8 and Older, 2003-2012 10
Figure 3. Seat Belt Use by Gender for Occupants 8 and Older, 2003-2012 10
Figure 4. Seat Belt Use by Race for Occupants 8 and Older, 2005-2012 11
Figure 5. Passenger Effect on Seat Belt Use for Occupants 8 and Older, 2004-2012 11
Figure 6. Seat Belt Use by Seating Position for Occupants 8 and Older, 2004-2012 13
Figure 7. Seat Belt Use in Rear Seats by State Law Type for Occupants 8 and Older, 2005-2012 14
Figure 8. Child Restraint Use Among Children Under 8, 2004-2012 16
Figure 9. Child Rear-Seat Placement, 2004 - 2012 16
Figure 10. Child Restraint Use by Region in 2011 and 2012 17
Figure 11. Child Restraint Use by Region, 2004-2012 18
Figure 12. Child Restraint Use by Time of Week in 2011 and 2012 18
Figure 13. Child Restraint Use by Vehicle Type in 2011 and 2012 19
Figure 14. Child Restraint Use by Driver Belt Status, 2004-2012 19