PROGRAMS

Seat Belts

Overview

The goal of the Seat Belt Program is to save lives, and prevent serious injuries on Washington's roadways by increasing the seat belt usage rate.

Between 1996 and 2006, there were, on average, 551 motor vehicle occupants killed each year on Washington roadways.  State data shows that, on average, only 45% of these people were wearing seat belts, while nearly 85% of those who were unhurt WERE wearing seat belts. Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that a seat belt increases a person's chance of surviving a collision by 45% and a seat belt reduces your risk of being seriously injured by 69%. The data is clear: seat belts save lives.

Washington's Occupant Protection Laws

Issues

Observational surveys conducted in the summer of 2007 indicate seat belt use rates for occupants of passenger vehicles, including SUV's and pick-up trucks is at 96.4% compared to 81% nationally. The following are identified problem areas:

• Pick-up truck drivers and their occupants who have been identified as a segment of the population who are less likely to buckle up;
• Part-time users who are sporadic in their seat belt use;
• Seat belt use rates in rural areas are lower;
• The Hispanic and Native American populations show use rates lower than the state average.

Washington's seat belt law was passed in 1986 as a secondary enforcement law which covered all vehicle occupants in all seating positions. The Washington Legislature passed an upgrade to this law changing it to primary enforcement during the 2002 legislative session. This change was effective June 13, 2002.

Washington's Seat Belt Law - Revised Code of Washington, 46.61.688

Find quick answers to specific questions about Washington's seat belt law on the Washington State Patrol "Frequently Asked Questions" site.

A seat belt ticket costs $124 and a driver can be ticketed for every unbuckled passenger in the car who is under age 16. Passengers aged 16 and older can be given their own seat belt ticket.

Programs

Night Time Seat Belt Enforcement (NTSBE) Project

The WTSC endeavors to increase the seat belt use rate in Washington through a variety of programs. Many seat belt safety advocates have been identified since the Commission began its heavy emphasis in occupant protection in 1980. These include public and private organizations, agencies and individuals from a wide variety of disciplines including health, education, law enforcement, private business, governmental units at all jurisdiction levels, community task forces, volunteers and child advocates.

Through the Occupant Protection Program, advocates are provided with coordination, technical assistance in program development and implementation, and a variety of program resources and materials.

Occupant Protection Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs (sTEPs) are a proven method to change motorists' seat belt use behavior and do it quickly. Successful Occupant Protection sTEPs have been documented in Canada, Europe, and the United States. The Click It Or Ticket (CIOT) Program is just one of these programs. This high-visibility seat belt enforcement campaign model has been shown to increase seat belt and child restraint use rates thereby decreasing death and serious injury on roadways across the nation.

The concept is simple. It starts with a statewide public information effort to educate motorists about an upcoming seat belt enforcement wave and is followed up with an intensive period of increased enforcement patrols focused on seat belt use.

Over 100 law enforcement agencies participate in twice yearly Click It Or Ticket campaigns which have played a part in Washington's 96.4% seat belt use rate.

Resource Information

Contact Information

Fact Sheets
News Releases

View New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's Seat Belt PSA

Watch traffic safety educational videos and ads on YouTube. Visit www.youtube.com - search with "wtsc"

If you are interested in becoming more involved in traffic safety issues on the community level, please contact your local Community Traffic Safety Task Force.

All WTSC grant funds are listed on our Grants page.