Citation

Treat JR, Ruschmann PA. Proc. Am. Assoc. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1980; 24: 396-409.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although lap and shoulder belts are available in nearly all passenger cars, only a small minority of U.S. drivers and an even smaller proportion of passengers make regular use of them. The United States is among the minority of industrialized nations that has no state or federal requirements mandating universal use of available occupant restraints, and it is considered unlikely that mandatory requirements will become politically feasible in the near future. Court-imposed requirements for seat belt use in the United States are also minimal, and the courts have been generally reluctant to impose belt use requirements by recognizing the so- called seat belt defense. However, belt-use requirements have been established for selected classes of drivers and occupants. Examples include requirements for restraint of children in Tennessee and Rhode Island, and for restraint use by school bus drivers in several other states. Following this approach, it appears feasible from both a legal and political standpoint to impose requirements to ensure the use of available restraints on schools, day care centers, camps, and other child care providers that are also engaged in providing transportation. Nevertheless, present state and federal belt-use requirements for these providers are minimal. Suggestions are provided for implementing use requirements through licensing, regulatory, and funding agencies, as well as through organizations and associations that represent these groups.