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New Michigan Seat Belt Law Working, Survey Says

1 May 2000

Office of Highway Safety Planning: 11% Increase from December, New Michigan Seat Belt Law Working, Survey Says

    LANSING, Mich., May 1 Michigan's strong new safety belt
law is having a remarkable positive impact on drivers, encouraging them to
buckle up in a dramatic fashion and winning strong levels of support among
state residents.
    According to a recent statewide telephone survey, 78 percent of those
surveyed said they were wearing a belt all of the time.  More important, 28
percent of those over 18 say they are wearing safety belts more today than
before the March 10 implementation of the new law.
    The survey of 692 Michigan residents was taken from April 9 to 13 by EPIC-
MRA of Lansing for the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).  The survey
of persons over 18 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.
    "We are very encouraged by the results of this survey.  We are awaiting
the outcome of an observational survey by the University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute, and hope that it verifies the volunteered
statements of this poll," said Betty J. Mercer, OHSP division director.  The
most recent visual survey, taken in the fall of 1999, showed about 70 percent
of Michigan drivers were buckled.
    The new law is enjoying widespread support among Michigan residents, with
70 percent saying they approve of it.
    The extensive "Click it or Ticket" campaign by state safety officials to
ensure that people knew of the new law prior to its taking effect seems to
have worked, too.  The April survey showed that 87 percent of those surveyed
said they were "very aware" of the new law, and 8 percent were "somewhat
aware," for a total of 95 percent saying they were aware of the new law.
    The "Click it or Ticket" slogan that is the hallmark of publicity efforts
has a broad recall, with more than half of drivers mentioning it without
prompting when asked to recall a traffic safety issue slogan.  Asked how
effective the campaign will be in persuading people to use belts, 64 percent
said it would be very or somewhat effective, and only 25 percent said it would
be only a little effective or not effective at all.
    "The goal of this campaign has been to increase awareness of the new law,
to raise voluntary belt use," said Mercer.  "We want people to wear belts, not
get tickets.  We may see a short-term increase in the number of tickets
issued, but it seems that the message is getting across quickly, and Michigan
motorists are buckling up."