The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports seatbelt use is at an all-time high of more than 88% in the state according to an observational survey. The report shows nearly a three percentage point increase over last year. The survey includes drivers and front seat passengers
The national average is approximately 89% and states surrounding Wisconsin is at nearly 90%.
The 2016 observational survey also found the following:
· Occupants of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) were the most likely to buckle-up. Their safety belt use rate was 93.7 percent.
· Occupants of pickup and commercial trucks were the least likely to buckle up. The pickup occupants’ use rate was 81.5 percent, and commercial truck occupants’ use rate was slightly less than 80 percent.
· Females were more likely to buckle up than males. The female occupants’ use rate was 93.1 percent while the males’ use rate was 84.4 percent. However, this gender difference of 8.7 percent is lower than in past surveys, which had a difference of 10 percent or more.
· The safety belt use rate in the Milwaukee metro area increased to 86 percent. In last year’s survey, the Milwaukee metro area had a use rate of about 80 percent.
"We are encouraged that effective safety belt enforcement and education are showing positive results," says David Pabst, director of the Wis DOT Bureau of Transportation Safety. "To prevent deaths and injuries, our goal has to be 100 percent safety belt use in Wisconsin."
