Background on Seat Belts in Washington

Looking Back

2012 marks the 10th anniversary of Washington’s seat belt law changing from a secondary law to a primary law. That change allowed law enforcement to issue a seat belt ticket when there was no other citable traffic infraction. Also that year, Washington adopted the Click It or Ticket project that was being used in other states. In one year the use rate jumped 10 percentage points. (WTSC)

In Washington during the past ten years, 1,010 lives have been saved by drivers and passengers using seat belts. This estimate is based on an assumption that the 2001 vehicle-occupant death rate of 0.95 per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled remained constant through 2011. (WTSC)

In the past ten years, traffic deaths on Washington roadways are down 29 percent and serious injuries are down 28 percent, while vehicle-miles traveled increased 6.6 percent over this same period. (FARS, WSDOT)

Year	Number of Traffic Deaths	Number of Vehicle Occupant Deaths
1999	637	526
2000	631	511
2001	649	509
2002	658	513
2003	600	449
2004	567	419
2005	649	476
2006	633	470
2007	571	415
2008	521	361
2009	492	348
2010	460	315
2011	*455	*304

 *Preliminary & expected to change

Timeline Notes (WTSC, NHTSA)

1986

Many states begin conducting and reporting observational seat belt surveys. By the end of 1986, 22 states had passed a seat belt law, including Washington, which passed a secondary law. That is, law enforcement officers could issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there was another citable traffic infraction. In one year, the use rate increased from 36 percent to 52 percent.

1995

Seat belt use reaches 80 percent.

2002

• Washington conducted its first Click It or Ticket campaign, following in the footsteps of several other states.
• Separately, the Washington Legislature passed a bill changing the seat belt law from a secondary law to a primary law. The use rate jumped 10 points from 82.6 to 92.6.
• Washington has the highest seat belt use rate in the nation. This achievement is repeated in 2003 and 2006.

2007                                                                                           

The Click It or Ticket campaigns moved to nighttime hours as a test project for the country because the national traffic death rate at night is four times higher.

2011                                                                                           

From 2002 through 2011 the seat belt use rate increased to 97.5 percent. For the past ten years, Washington consistently has had one of the highest seat belt rates in the nation.

Seat belt tickets issued in the past 10 years

2001 - 8,504

2002 - 15,579

2003 - 15,978

2004 - 19,941

2005 - 24,179

2006 - 18,618

2007 - 24,340

2008 - 35,125

2009 - 78,495

2010 - 72,268

2011 - 68,633

Total - 381,660

In 2002 the cost of a seat belt ticket was $86. In 2012 a seat belt ticket cost $124. (AOC)

General Seat Belt Information

The medical costs of an unbuckled motorist average $11,000 more per collision than those who buckle up (HIPRC).

When motorists are unbuckled, often they are ejected partially or completely from vehicles. By wearing seat belts, they reduce their risk of being ejected by 81% (HIPRC).

When used correctly, lap and shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and the risk of head injury by 80 percent. (HIPRC)

Currently, the nighttime death rate in Washington is about three times (2.8) higher than the daytime rate. (FARS, WSDOT)

Compared to people who drive during the day with seat belts on, nighttime unbuckled drivers are: (WTSC)

• Three times more likely to have felony records.
• Twice as likely to have criminal records for offenses involving violence.
• Three times more likely to have a DUI on their records.
• More than twice as likely to have a negligent or reckless driving violation on their driving records.

The seat belt law is a primary-enforcement law in Washington, so an officer can pull over a vehicle if a driver — or passenger — is not buckled up. If the unbuckled passenger is under age 16, the driver gets the ticket; if unbuckled passengers are age 16 or older, they get their own seat belt tickets. (RCW 46.61.688)

Source Key

FARS - Fatality Analysis Reporting System

WTSC - Washington Traffic Safety Commission

WSDOT - Washington State Department of Transportation

RCW - Revised Codes of Washington

HIPRC - Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center

AOC - Administrative Office of the Courts (Washington’s)

Source: King County Traffic Safety Task Force