L. Beck and West, 2011, used data from the 2008 Nationally Representative Behavioural Risk Factors Surveillance System (FSRO) survey to compare seat belt use. They found that 88.2 percent of adults living in states where seat belt laws are primarily enforced reported always wearing a seat belt, compared to 79.2 percent in states with secondary laws. Differences in seat belt use existed in some socio-demographic categories, but use rates were higher for each group in states where seat belt laws were primarily enforced. Recent research (Masten, 2007) has strongly suggested that the shift from secondary to primary enforcement of seat belt laws increases occupants` seat belt use during the night, as well as the daylight hours when most observational investigations are conducted into seat belt use. (UNC Centre for Road Safety Research, 2011, pp. 2-13) I just think that seat belt laws are totally unenforceable and that the money raised by seat belt violations looks more like an unfair tax than a legitimate fine. Increased enforcement efforts were coordinated with the implementation of the program. During the 15-month study period, local, state, and state law enforcement officials issued 10,358 quotes for seat belt and child seat violations, a 29 percent increase from the same period 2 years earlier. Half of the people who received submissions and were eligible to take the course exceeded the program`s expectations. Participants received a certificate of completion of the course and were thus able to have a seat belt quote rejected by the county.
A statistically significant increase in observed seat belt use relative to baseline was observed at 10 observation sites in the county. The results of this study support the combination of highly visible law enforcement and brief classroom intervention as a means of increasing seat belt use in a predominantly rural, uncrowded area. SOURCE: IIHS, 2014d. an Arkansas rewards the use of the belt by reducing the fine for the main violation by $10. b This state assesses the points for this violation. In Georgia, the maximum fine is $25 if the child is between the ages of 6 and 18. Massachusetts drivers can be fined $25 for violations of the Belt Act itself and $25 for every unbridled passenger between the ages of 12 and 16. He New York will only evaluate points if the passenger is under 16 years of age. The South Carolina Police Department is prohibited from enforcing seat belt laws at checkpoints designed for this purpose. However, seat belt offences may be issued at driving licence checkpoints and registration points to drivers named for other offences. g Tennessee drivers 18 years of age and older who choose not to dispute the quote will pay a $10 fine by mail or $20 for drivers aged 16 and 17. h Wyoming rewards the use of the belt by reducing the fine for the main violation by $10.
You can read Chapter 2, Section 1.3 of the NHTSA Countermeasures that Work: A Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Officespdf symbolexternal symbol (tenth edition, 2020) to learn more about the above topics or other issues related to increasing fines for seat belts.1 [Hedlund, Gilbert, et al., 2008] have examined the impact of changes to primary law on seat belt use and deaths. of occupants in Michigan, New Jersey, Washington, Delaware, Illinois and Tennessee. In FARS data for all 6 states, strong evidence was found that primary seat belt laws increase seat belt use. In addition, statistically significant decreases in the number of passenger car occupant deaths in front seats were noted in Michigan and Washington, D.C., and the decline in New Jersey was marginally significant. The lack of a significant impact on deaths in Illinois and Tennessee, as well as a slight increase in Delaware, were attributed in part to the short time since primary regulation was implemented in those states, as well as the low number of deaths in Delaware. (UNC Centre for Road Safety Research, 2011, pp. 2-13) SECTION 56-5-6525. Restrictions on the use of checkpoints or roadblocks to enforce this section. (A) The Department of Public Safety or any other law enforcement agency shall not use a “Click It or Ticket” campaign or similar undertaking of systematic checkpoints or roadblocks as a law enforcement tool if the primary purpose is to detect a violation of the provisions of this section, primary or secondary, and issue a ticket.
(B) A person shall not receive a quote at a checkpoint set up to stop all drivers on a given road for a specified period of time in order to remove his or her seat belt in order to retrieve documents to be presented at the checkpoint. All new passenger cars had a seat belt shape from 1964, shoulder belts in 1968, and lap belts and shoulder belts integrated in 1974 ([Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS)], 2001). Only a few detainees wore the belt: surveys conducted at various locations showed that the use of the belt was about 10 per cent. The first large-scale survey, conducted in 19 cities in 1982, observed 11% of seat belt use by drivers and passengers ([Williams and Wells, 2004]). (UNC Road Safety Research Centre, 2011, pp. 2-4) As of January 2022, state fines for adults ranged from $10 to $200. However, most states had fines for seat belts of $25 or less.2,8 See above for current legislation. The enforcement of seat belt violations can be treated as a primary or secondary matter, depending on the law. If it is a primary safety violation, police officers may conduct a traffic check only due to the seat belt violation. If it is secondary, there must be another reason to stop a car, such as: Speeding or mechanical injury such as a missing light, and people in the car can be punished for not wearing the seat belt in addition to the primary offense. I can understand why there are seat belt laws, but unlike other things, such as cell phone use or loud music, not wearing a seat belt only puts the driver at risk. I think if someone chooses not to wear a seat belt, he or she takes all the risks.
SECTION 56-5-6530 Exceptions. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to: (1) a driver or passenger who is in possession of written proof from a doctor that he is unable to wear a seat belt for physical or medical reasons; (2) medical or rescue personnel who care for injured or sick persons in an emergency vehicle when deployed in an emergency situation, as well as injured or sick persons; (3) school, religious or kindergarten buses; (4) public transport vehicles other than taxis; (5) the occupants of vehicles during parades; (6) U.S. factors; (7) an occupant for whom no seat belt is available because all the seat belts are used by other occupants; (8) one or more drivers or occupants of a vehicle that was not originally equipped with seat belts. In most states, there is considerable opposition to amending a secondary law into a primary law on the use of the belt. Opponents argue that primary laws interfere with the rights of individuals and give law enforcement the ability to harass minorities. Studies in several states have found that minority groups are admitted at similar or lower rates than others after the introduction of a primary law (Shults et al., 2004). When Michigan moved from a secondary law to a primary law, harassment complaints were very rare before and after the law change. The proportion of seat belts allocated to minority groups has decreased under primary law. In a telephone survey, the vast majority of people who actually received seat belt citations did not feel that they had been selected based on their race, age or gender. However, some minorities and young drivers reported the perception of harassment ([Eby, Kostyniuk, Molnar et al., 2004]).
(UNC Centre for Road Safety Research, 2011, pp. 2-14) Summary of the Act: South Carolina`s Seat Belt Act requires every driver and occupant of a motor vehicle, when traveling on public roads and highways in that state, to wear a seat belt fastened in accordance with all provisions of federal law for its use. The driver is responsible for requiring any occupant who is 17 years of age or younger to wear a seat belt or be fastened in a child restraint system, as required by law. However, a driver is not responsible for an occupant who is 17 years of age or younger and who has a driver`s licence, a special restricted driver`s licence or a beginner`s licence and who is not wearing a seat belt.
