The Tennessee Highway Safety Office recently announced results from its annual roadside observational survey to determine the state鈥檚 average seat belt usage rate. This survey returned a statewide usage rate of 92.2 percent. The 2024 usage rate represents an increase of approximately 0.2% compared to Tennessee鈥檚 2023 survey result of 92.0 percent. The 2024 survey result is Tennessee鈥檚 highest annual seat belt usage rate to date.
鈥淔or the second year in a row, Tennessee achieved its highest seat belt usage rate on record,鈥 said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. 鈥淲e appreciate all of our traffic safety partners for prioritizing occupant protection, spreading awareness, and engaging local communities. We look forward to continuing these partnerships as we work to reduce serious injuries and traffic fatalities.鈥
Every year, the THSO works to increase the state鈥檚 seat belt usage rate by collaborating with state and local partners through THSO grant-funded programs like Ollie Otter, Reduce TN Crashes, Rule the Road, and Tennessee鈥檚 Occupant Protection Coalition. The THSO also promotes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration鈥檚 鈥淐lick It or Ticket鈥 seat belt enforcement campaign, reminding citizens to buckle up.
Highlights from Tennessee鈥檚 2024 seat belt survey are as follows.
Research data was collected at 190 pre-identified roadway locations across Tennessee.
Researchers observed almost 29,000 vehicle occupants.
Vehicles observed included passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs.
The highest usage rate was observed among occupants in sport utility vehicles (96.3 percent).
The lowest usage rate was observed among occupants in pickup trucks (84.6 percent).
Female occupants were observed to have a higher usage rate (96.2 percent) than males (89.2 percent).
Front-seat passengers were observed to have a higher usage rate (92.3 percent) than drivers (92.1 percent).
County-level usage rates exceeded 90% in 14 of 16 counties included in the survey鈥檚 sample.
McMinn County had the highest usage rate (97 percent) among sampled counties.
The 2024 survey captured Tennessee鈥檚 all-time high average seat belt usage rate for the second year in a row.
This data was collected through an annual roadside observational survey conducted by the University of Tennessee鈥檚 Center for Transportation Research in accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration鈥檚 Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.