1374879 - An Analysis of Safety Outcomes from Unlicensed Drivers Not Wearing Seatbelts in the USA

Over the past decade, 35,000 to 40,000 people were killed annually in road crashes across the US. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the fatalities are usually unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants . With the national average seatbelt use rate at 90% , it means that about 10% of the population accounts for almost half of the passenger vehicle deaths. Wearing a seatbelt is crucial to surviving a crash, yet some passengers travel without being restrained. A seatbelt is the single most effective device that can prevent passengers from being totally ejected from their vehicles in the event of a crash.

In the U.S., several agencies have been working to enhance traffic safety through preventive measures including effective educational and enforcement programs, and seatbelt law legislations. Despite these efforts, a significant proportion of the motoring populace still engages in risky behaviors and practices while in motor vehicles. According to NHTSA, about one in five fatal crashes, as well as traffic fatalities involve unlicensed drivers . The exact reasons for such a proportion of unlicensed drivers in fatal crashes remain unclear. The problem may be due to the differences in the behavior of unlicensed drivers. There is growing evidence linking unlicensed driving to a cluster of high-risk behaviors including drunk driving and speeding . The contribution of unlicensed drivers to the frequency of traffic crashes is well documented in the literature, however, little is known of the relationship between unlicensed drivers and their seatbelt use. Against this background, this presentation will highlight preliminary findings from an investigation of this concern. Specifically, it will report on the risk of seatbelt non-use among unlicensed and licensed drivers using ten years of crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

The analysis showed that the risk of seatbelt non-use among unlicensed drivers was almost twice the risk of licensed drivers. Regardless of the driver characteristics (age, gender, in-state or out-of-state), roadway and environment (urban/rural, jurisdictional seatbelt law, region, road type), vehicle type, and collision characteristics (time, seasons, day of week), unlicensed drivers consistently showed a higher risk of seatbelt non-use. After controlling for the predictor variables in a logistic regression model, unlicensed drivers were found to be 60% more likely than licensed drivers not to wear seatbelts. These findings are critical to addressing a myriad of policy and tactical questions about unlicensed drivers’ behavior and seatbelt use. The results highlight a risk effect that has significant implications for highway safety and injury prevention programs.