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Seatbelt usage rates in Michigan and why seatbelts matter with Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning(11-24-24)
Published 1 year, 5 months ago
Description
In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).
Michigan seat belt use rate fell again in 2024. However, the Hands-Free Law has helped reduce handheld device usage by 1.2 percent. For the second year in a row, Michigan’s seat belt use rate fell slightly, according to the results from a grant-funded direct observation study conducted by Michigan State University. The 2024 study, conducted in May and June, determined Michigan's seat belt use rate of 92.0 percent.
The usage drop was a 0.4 percentage point decrease from the reported rate of 92.4 in 2023.
Katie stressed, “We must remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. Every time we buckle up, we protect ourselves and everyone on the road.” In Michigan, seat belt use observation studies over the last ten years (2014-2023) indicate the overall annual use rate among front-seat occupants ranged from 92.4 to 94.5 percent. Notable: The state’s highest seat belt use rate was 97.9 percent in 2009.
Online Resources: Michigan OHSP
OHSP videos titled “Perfect World” and “Something Stops You”
Michigan seat belt use rate fell again in 2024. However, the Hands-Free Law has helped reduce handheld device usage by 1.2 percent. For the second year in a row, Michigan’s seat belt use rate fell slightly, according to the results from a grant-funded direct observation study conducted by Michigan State University. The 2024 study, conducted in May and June, determined Michigan's seat belt use rate of 92.0 percent.
The usage drop was a 0.4 percentage point decrease from the reported rate of 92.4 in 2023.
Katie stressed, “We must remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. Every time we buckle up, we protect ourselves and everyone on the road.” In Michigan, seat belt use observation studies over the last ten years (2014-2023) indicate the overall annual use rate among front-seat occupants ranged from 92.4 to 94.5 percent. Notable: The state’s highest seat belt use rate was 97.9 percent in 2009.
Online Resources: Michigan OHSP
OHSP videos titled “Perfect World” and “Something Stops You”