EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY BELT LAW CHANGE FROM SECONDARY TO PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT

Some states allow an officer to stop a vehicle for an observed belt la w violation alone (primary). Most require that the initial stop be mad e for some other violation before a belt law citation can be issued (s econdary). On January 1, 1993, California became the first state to im plement an uninterrupted change from secondary to primary belt law enf orcement. In six study communities, the percentage of drivers observed wearing seat belts increased from 58% prior to the law change to 76% soon thereafter. Drivers surveyed at DMV offices indicated that they h ad knowledge of the new law and were more likely to wear their belts n ow than in the past.