Seat belt law calculator

This calculator uses statistical models based on data from published research to show how changes to laws in every state and the District of Columbia would affect belt use rates and deaths among adult occupants of passenger vehicles. The calculator estimates the effect of primary or secondary enforcement for the front seat, the rear seat or both versus no law at all. Read more about the calculator methodology.

Choose a state and adjust the sliders to see how seat belt use rates and fatalities would change if seat belt laws were strengthened or weakened.

Definitions

Front-seat belt use and front-seat deaths

Seat belt use and crash deaths among front-seat occupants ages 13 and older in passenger vehicles.

Rear-seat belt use and rear-seat deaths

Seat belt use and crash deaths among second- and third-row occupants ages 13 and older in passenger vehicles.

Primary enforcement

Primary enforcement laws allow a police officer to stop and cite a motorist solely for not using a seat belt.

Secondary enforcement

In states with secondary enforcement, police can only enforce the law if the motorist has been pulled over for another violation first