Transportation leadership you can trust. presented to 2008 Highway Safety Summit, Boise Idaho presented by Lowell M. Porter Cambridge Systematics, Inc. May 13, 2008 Nighttime Seat Belt Enforcement: The Washington Experience

2 Introduction Washington’s seat belt use rate Project background Nighttime usage/death rate comparisons Project methodology, goals and evaluation Enforcement model Project time line

3 Background Washington’s daytime seat belt use rate – 96.4% About the same number of people die in fatal crashes during the day as at night. However, only 15% of the vehicle miles traveled occur at night. Seat belt use rate in fatal crashes ~ 53% Seat belt use rate in nighttime fatal crashes ~ 46%

4 Background WA death rate at night is 4 times higher. Research shows that unbuckled drivers in WA are some of the highest risk taking drivers on the states roadways. Therefore, NHTSA and the WA. Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) are conducting a demonstration project to research effective nighttime seat belt enforcement and the occurrence of other high risk driving behaviors.

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10 Project Goals Determine if the CIOT model can be used effectively to increase nighttime seat belt use. Determine if this strategy can reduce injury and death rates as occurred with daytime enforcement. Learn who the unbuckled motorists are and how to most effectively change their behavior. Measure the impact this project has on other high risk driving behaviors and the frequency at which other criminal offenses are identified.

11 Enforcement Strategy

12 Three statewide mobilizations: $300,000 for law enforcement overtime grants $300,000 for publicity: $270,000 media air buy $30,000 print materials and road signs Campaign dates: May, 2007 October, 2007 May, 2008 Evaluation by Dunlap & Associates Strategic Plan: Stationary patrols:

13 May, 2007 mobilization: 77 law enforcement agencies participated Media coverage was extensive Editorial boards proved fruitful Variable message road signs: −Rented 30 −WSDOT put message on 150 freeway signs −Pop up signs used by law enforcement. Activities to date:

14 51 law enforcement agencies participated −More recruitment efforts are underway −We competed with hunting season Media coverage was still extensive Preliminary data shows people noticed the message Sustained enforcement efforts in three counties between mobilizations. October Mobilization T.V. PSA:

15 Results: 5,715 hours worked 10,380 total contacts 6,756 total tickets 4,671 seat belt and child car seat tickets 144 DUIs 66 “other alcohol” 115 drug offenses 176 aggressive & reckless 59 felony warrants & arrests 123 “other criminal arrests” 141 misdemeanor warrants 530 suspended/revoked 973 uninsured 8 stolen cars 1,393 vehicle violations 5,362 hours worked 7,517 total contacts 5,322 total tickets 3,948 seat belt and child car seat tickets 83 DUIs 35 “other alcohol” 78 drug offenses 57 aggressive & reckless 64 felony warrants & arrests 110 “other criminal arrests” 134 misdemeanor warrants 282 suspended/revoked 478 uninsured 4 stolen cars 510 vehicle violations May 2007 October 2007

16 More seat belt tickets per officer contact More criminal interdiction than daytime seat belt patrols Good value for the grant dollars Public support Need to constantly promote among law enforcement Results: comparisons with other campaigns

17 Seat belt tickets (day vs. night) Observational surveys (day and night) Knowledge and awareness opinion surveys Intercept surveys With tickets: an analysis of driving and criminal histories of people who drive unbuckled at night. Are there more high risk drivers in this group of unbuckled drivers v.s. daytime unbuckleds. Evaluation components: Observational surveys

18 Future plans: Maintain high daytime seat belt use (96.4%) Sustained enforcement: 3 counties in between mobilizations May, 2008 statewide mobilization Recruit law enforcement involvement On-going analysis of results Insert law enforcement Photo here

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20 Summary of 2007 Fatality-Reduction Factors FACTOR2007 (vs Avg) Speeding-involved fatalities -18.2% Impaired driver-involved fatalities-22.9% August fatalities -21.8% September fatalities -21.8% Motor vehicle occupant fatalities-11.9% Nighttime Fatalities (6pm-5:59 am)-17.3% Highway-related fatalities - 4.8% County road-related fatalities % Male fatalities- 9.3% Female fatalities % Restraint Use by MV Occ fatalities May-August+17.98% Analysis for all years includes data for January 1 - September 30 only owing to preliminary and incomplete data for 2007.

21 Questions

22 Lowell Porter Cambridge Systematics Contact Information: WTSC web page: wtsc.wa.gov