Seat belt use rates in the United States

Seat belt use rates in the United States have been rising steadily since 1983, from 14% to 90% in 2016.

Seat belt use in the country in 2016 ranged from a minimum of 70.2% in New Hampshire to a maximum of 96.9% in Georgia.

[1] According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2008 survey, seat belt use remained lower among 16- to 24-year-olds than other age groups, with a rate of 77%, and also was lower among African Americans than other races, with a use rate of 75%.

The survey also found that seat belt use continued to be higher among females (86%) than males (79%).

[2] According to the NHTSA's 2013 survey, seat belt use in jurisdictions with stronger seatbelt enforcement laws continue to exhibit generally higher use rates than those with weaker laws.