Michigan’s seat belt use decreased again in 2024
- Seat belt use in Michigan has slightly dropped in the last year
- This is the second year in a row seat belt use has declined
- Still, over 90% of drivers wear seat belts
For the second year in a row, fewer drivers and front-seat passengers are buckling up in Michigan.
Ninety-two percent of front-seat occupants in Michigan wear seat belts, down from 92.4% last year and 92.9% in 2022, according to a Michigan State University report commissioned by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning.
“Every unbuckled seat belt represents a life at risk,” said OHSP director Katie Bower in a press statement. “It’s disheartening to see the seat belt use rate in Michigan continue to decline. According to the statement, every percentage-point increase in seat belt use means 10 fewer traffic deaths and 100 fewer serious injuries.
Researchers observed 25,000 drivers and front-seat passengers at 200 intersections and interchanges in 35 Michigan counties in late May and June. The state commissioned the survey to comply with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements. In addition to looking for whether the occupants were properly belted, observers noted whether the driver was using a mobile phone.
MSU also conducted a supplemental survey looking at seat belt use in all 83 Michigan counties. That survey also found a 92% seat-belt use rate for 2024, but it was up from 90.8% in 2023.
“From a demographic standpoint, the lowest seat belt use rates were observed for young men, Black men, and males in pickup trucks,” the report said. “Continued public awareness and enforcement efforts addressing at-risk vehicle occupants and geographic areas prone to low belt use rates are warranted to increase seat belt use.”
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Between 2014-2023 studies show that seat belt use in Michigan ranged from 92.4 to 94.5%, according to the Michigan State Police. The highest seat belt use was 97.9% in 2009, while the lowest was 90.5% in 2004.
“We must remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. Every time we buckle up, we protect not just ourselves but everyone on the road,” Bower said.
Putting the phone down
Michigan drivers are also using handheld devices less. The MSP said the state's hands-free law which went into effect last June, caused handheld device use to drop to 5.5% this year from 6.7% in 2023.
“A rate decrease of 1.2 percentage points translates to many lives being saved as drivers and passengers understand the importance of keeping their hands on the wheel at all times,” Bower said. “While there is still much work to do to decrease distracted-driving crashes, we are thrilled the Hands-Free Law has positively influenced driver behavior and has helped save lives on our roads.”
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