Please note: This website has recently moved from www.health.gov to odphp.health.gov. www.health.gov is now the official website of ODPHP’s parent organization, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). Please update your bookmarks for easy access to all our resources. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Motor Vehicle Injury – Safety Belts: Laws Mandating Use

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services

Last Reviewed: October 2000

Workgroups: Injury and Violence Prevention Workgroup

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends safety belt laws to increase use of safety belts in adolescents and adults and to reduce deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes. These laws require that people use safety belts in motor vehicles, and in the United States, all safety belt laws apply to drivers and front seat passengers. Laws related to seat belt use in back seats vary by state.

Read more about this resource

Objectives related to this resource (2)

Reduce the proportion of deaths of car passengers who weren't buckled in — IVP‑07
Little or no detectable change
Reduce deaths from motor vehicle crashes — IVP‑06
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

Guide to Community Preventive Services. (2000). Motor Vehicle Injury – Safety Belts: Laws Mandating Use. Retrieved from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/motor-vehicle-injury-safety-belts-laws-mandating-use