Occupant Protection Special Traffic Enforcement Program Evaluation

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15254571999PDFResearch PaperSolomon, M. G. (Mark Geoffrey)Nissen, W. J.Preusser, David F.Preusser Research Group, Inc.United States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationIndianaIowaNew JerseyManual safety beltsSafety programsTraffic law enforcementPublic information programsImpact studiesDOT-HS-808-884NTIS-PB2000107131DTNH22-94-D-05044Cosgrove, LindaOccupant Protection Special Traffic Enforcement Programs (OP sTEP) are periods of highly visible seat belt law enforcement combined with extensive media support. The objective of the present study was to describe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant funded OP sTEP programs in terms of implementation and evaluate results achieved. Summary and final reports submitted by states (20) to NHTSA were collected. Case studies were conducted in Indiana, Iowa and New Jersey. Results indicate that OP sTEP program grants generated incremental enforcement efforts that were well publicized. Over one-quarter of a million seat belt citations (273,437) and close to one million various other citations (963,895) were issued. Over 300,000 public information and education items were aired, printed or distributed. Seat belt use rates increased with subsequent waves. Increases in seat belt use were greatest after the first wave, less thereafter. Belt use increases among participating communities in secondary law states averaged +5.6 percentage points compared to +16.8 percentage points for primary law states. /Abstract from report summary page/129