Background to Enforcement Approach
Operation ABC Mobilzation - May 2002
What is a "sTEP" Model?
Seat Belt Enforcement: Questions and Answers

Education alone is not enough to raise seat belt use. National seat belt use had remained level prior to last year despite regional, state and national education programs stressing critical health and safety messages relating to seat belt and child restraint use.

High-visibility enforcement of seat belt laws sends a powerful message. Unfortunately, the threat of serious injury or even death isn't enough to persuade some people - especially young people who believe they are invincible - to always buckle up. The only proven way to get these people to use seat belts is the real possibility of a ticket and fine.

Enforcement and publicity, together, get results. High-visibility enforcement combines periodic waves of stepped-up enforcement of seat belt and child passenger safety laws with aggressive publicity highlighting the enforcement.

The Campaign supports states in conducting high visibility enforcement programs to increase safety belt and child safety seat use. During 1996 - 1998, the Campaign funded seven such programs. Significantly increasing the number of people who buckle up and correctly use child safety seats is the most effective way to reduce the number of crash related injuries to drivers and passengers in all vehicles. Several high visibility enforcement projects have proven that high visibility enforcement significantly increases safety belt usage rates.

For more information, contact the Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, National Safety Council, 1025 Conn. Ave., NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 625-2570 (tel.); (202) 822-1399 (fax); E-mail: airbag@nsc.org.