Survey: Mich. seat belt use 84.9 percent for commercial vehicle drivers

Seat belt usage up for commercial motor vehicle drivers in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. – A new survey conducted by the Wayne State University Transportation Research Group (WSU-TRG) seat belt use in Michigan has risen to 84.9 percent in commercial motor vehicle drivers.

That's up considerably from 73.6 percent in 2006, the last time the study was conducted.

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A similar study conducted by WSU-TRG found Michigan's passenger seatbelt use rate is 93.6 percent.

The old adage, with age comes wisdom, may hold true with seat belt use.

The survey found that as participant age increased, the tendency for drivers and passengers to use a seat belt also increased.

The figures jumped from 83 percent for ages under 29 to 86.4 percent for drivers and passengers over the age of 60.

"Seat belts are vital to ensure safety for all drivers, including those operating large trucks," said Fred Bueter, MTSC chair.

Men and women tend to utilize their seat belts at similar usage rates, although the frequency of women commercial vehicle drivers and passengers is very low.

The MTSC works to enhance truck and truck driver safety through training, research and support of enforcement of motor carrier safety laws.

State police said an annual enforcement crackdown for recreational motorists who failed to use seat belts and child safety seats led to 8,050 citations between May 21 to June 1.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationwide seat belt use in general has reached an all-time high.

According to NHTSA, seat belt use has steadily increased since 1994.

Related headlines:

Woman, 60, killed in Warren car crash.

L. Brooks Patterson: not wearing seat belt was mistake.

Man, 21, killed after rear-ending semi on US-23.

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