Indiana Drivers - Including Pickup Truck Drivers - Favor Required Seat Belt Use in Pickups: Current Law Seen as 'Not Reasonable'

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 9, 2003 -- A majority of adult drivers in Indiana would favor new laws to require front seat occupants of pickup trucks to wear seat belts, based on survey results released today by the Indiana Farm Bureau, Clarian Health Partners, and the Indiana Seat Belt Coalition.

The dual-survey, conducted by the independent polling/research firm of EPIC-MRA, shows 72 percent of all Indiana drivers aged 18 years and older, and 52 percent of such pickup truck drivers, in favor of the proposed legislation.

When survey respondents were asked if it is reasonable for current Indiana seat belt laws to exclude occupants of pickup trucks, 61 percent of all drivers and 48 percent of pickup drivers said it is "not reasonable."

Another survey finding shows that 78 percent of all drivers and 68 percent of pickup drivers believe that vehicle occupants who wear seat belts are safer than occupants who do not wear seat belts.

The percentage of drivers who said they favor changes in the current seat belt law to include pickup occupants increased after survey respondents were told that children age four through 11 years are NOT required to wear seat belts and can ride unrestrained in pickup trucks. In this asking, 85 percent of all drivers said they would favor a change in the law (up by 13 percentage points from the previous asking), as did 69 percent of pickup drivers (up by 17 points).

An overwhelming majority of the drivers surveyed said they were not aware of the current provisions of the seat belt law that allow children to ride unsecured as passengers in pickups (79 percent of all drivers, 78 percent of pickup drivers).

Among those who said they favor the proposed change in Indiana's seat belt law, the majority said the proposal should be an "important" or a "top" priority in the upcoming Indiana legislative session (76 percent of all drivers, 66 percent of pickup drivers).

When asked how often they wear their seat belts when driving, 84 percent of all drivers said "all the time," compared to 58 percent of pickup drivers giving the same response.

EPIC-MRA Surveys on Indiana Seat Belt Usage/Primary Enforcement Law Changes

Two statewide surveys:

600 stratified random sample of adult vehicle drivers - error margin plus or minus 4.0%

496 stratified random sample of pickup truck drivers - error margin plus or minus 4.4%

Surveys conducted October 15 -29, 2003