National Data Source:

National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), DOT, NHTSA.

State Data Source:

Not identified.

Healthy People 2000 Objective:

9.12 (Unintentional Injuries).

Measure:

Percent.

Baseline:

69 (1998).

Numerator:

Number of persons observed using restraints.

Denominator:

Number of persons.

Population Targeted:

U.S. resident population.

Questions Used To Obtain the National Data:

Not applicable.

Expected Periodicity:

Biennial.

Comments:

NOPUS uses observational data collected at intersections, highway ramps, and parking lots. Four observers (each responsible for a different seat in the vehicle) report occupant restraint use.

The data for students in grades 9 through 12 are tracked separately with the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC, NCCDPHP (see Part C for a discussion of YRBSS). The numerator for that measure is the number of students in grades 9 through 12 who report that they wore a seat belt sometimes, most of the time, or always when they were riding in a car. The denominator is the number of students in grades 9 through 12. The questions from the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey follow:

-- How often do you wear a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else?

Never - Rarely - Sometimes - Most of the time - Always

People to Contact for Further Information