OHS, Seatbelt Usage Survey, FY26

Abstract OHS, Seatbelt Usage Survey, FY26 10/1/2025 - 9/30/2026 The use of safety belts is a proven means of reducing injuries to motor vehicle occupants involved in traffic crashes. Because of its importance, various efforts have been made to increase safety belt usage. Past efforts have included public information campaigns, local and statewide legislation, and enforcement of the legislation. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts, statewide observational surveys are conducted. The first observational surveys were conducted in Kentucky in 1982 and have been conducted annually to document safety belt usage. In the first few years, seatbelt usage increased quickly, from four percent in 1982 to 58 percent in 1994. In 1994, Kentucky included mandatory seatbelt usage as a “secondary enforcement” law, and the rate has steadily climbed since. In 2006, the seatbelt law became mandatory via “primary enforcement”, which also coincided with a continuing increase in seatbelt usage. Examples of the increasing rates are 60 percent in 2000, 66 percent in 2004, 73 percent in 2008, and 86 percent in 2014. These rates are statistically analyzed by the program’s licensed statistician in order to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the data that is collected and help pursue progress. The survey methodology used to collect data has to be updated regularly as directed by NHTSA. This year, the site selection must be updated. New counties will be chosen based on updated crash rates, and then new sites will be chosen within those counties. This step requires statistically robust methodology. Faculty from the department of Statistics will be consulted to develop a proper survey design. The objective of this study is to establish a statewide safety belt usage rate in Kentucky for 2026. The survey begins immediately after completing the annual “Click It or Ticket” (CIOT) campaigns, lasts for about two months, and involves collecting data at 150 sites across 15 counties. Data will be collected by highly trained student workers. Data from the individual sites will be combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, county and vehicle miles traveled. The rate from 2026 can be compared to those determined from previous surveys and will continue to document the effects of the legislation and various seatbelt usage campaigns. In order to statistically analyze the data and make valid comparisons, the research team will consist of transportation engineers with decades of experience in seatbelt studies as well as a licensed statistician.