U.S. DOT Announces 2006 Seatbelt & Motorcycle Helmet Use

[totalmotorcycle]

U.S. DOT Announces 2006 Seatbelt & Motorcycle Helmet Use Statistics
Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - autospectator.com




November 28, 2006 -- More Americans must take steps to protect themselves on America’s highways to reduce rising fatality numbers, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said today while releasing a study announcing slight changes to the seatbelt and helmet-use figures from 2005 to 2006.


Citing new data from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), Secretary Peters said that seatbelt use in the U.S. now stands at 81 percent, down slightly from the 2005 use rate of 82 percent. She noted that in the West, belt use climbed from 85 percent to 90 percent between 2005 and 2006; and it rose from 82 to 83 percent in the South. However, in the Northeast, belt use fell to 74 percent, down from 78 percent; and in the Midwest in dropped to 77 percent from 79 percent.

“A seat belt can’t work if it isn’t on,” said Secretary Peters. “Whatever it takes, we all need to do a better job making sure everyone chooses to buckle up.”

The Secretary noted that the Department is working with states to promote seatbelt use, providing more than $123 million in 2006 incentive grants to states with primary seatbelt laws. The DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also coordinates the national Click It or Ticket law enforcement campaigns, which mobilize thousands of police agencies across the country to vigorously enforce state belt laws.

The Secretary said the latest new data also shows that 51 percent of motorcyclists in the U.S. now wear helmets, up from 48 percent in 2005. She noted that motorcycle helmet use rose in the West between 2005 and 2006 (from 50 to 72 percent); and in the Northeast (from 42 to 47 percent). However, the use rate fell in the Midwest (from 53 to 50 percent) and in the South (from 49 to 45 percent). (The only helmets counted in the survey were those that comply with DOT standards.)

“All across America, every single day, helmets save lives,” said Nicole R. Nason, the NHTSA administrator.

Administrator Nason said NHTSA recently began to offer federal grants to states for programs to reduce the number of motorcyclist crashes. This year, for example, the agency will provide $6 million in grant funds to states for motorcycle safety training and motorist awareness programs. She said the agency will also create a public service announcement to promote helmet use and a consumer video for its website on how to choose a safe and well-fitting motorcycle helmet.

View: "Seatbelt Use in 2006 – Overall Results":
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30 ... 810677.pdf

View: "Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006 – Overall Results:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30 ... 810678.pdf

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NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590
DOT HS 810 677 November 2006

Seat Belt Use in 2006 ─ Overall Results


Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D., and Jianqiang Ye
In June 2006, seat belt use in the U.S. stands at 81 percent,
statistically unchanged from the previous year’s use rate of 82
percent. This result is from the National Occupant Protection
Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only probabilitybased
observed data on seat belt use in the United States. The
NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for
Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
The 2006 survey also found the following:
• Use in the West has achieved the 90 percent milestone,
increasing from 85 percent in 2005. This increase was
statistically significant.
• Use rates continue to be higher where laws are stronger.
States in which motorists can be stopped solely for belt
nonuse had a combined use rate of 85 percent in 2006,
compared to 74 percent in other States.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Belt Use, in Percent
Belt Use 58% 61% 62% 65% 69% 70% 67% 71% 71% 73% 75% 79% 80% 82% 81%
Oct-94 Oct-96 May-98 Jun-98 Oct-98 Dec-98 Dec-99 Jun-00 Oct-00 Jun-01 Jun-02 Jun-03 Jun-04 Jun-05 Jun-06
90%
83%
74% 77%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Northeast Midwest South West
Belt Use, in Percent
81%
89%
74%
85%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Primary Secondary Expressways Other Roads
Belt Use, in Percent
ENFORCEMENT LAW ROAD TYPE
Seat Belt Use, 1994-Present
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National
Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National
Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006
Seat Belt Use by Geographic Region Seat Belt Use by Ambient Enforcement Law and Road Type
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590
2
Seat Belt Use by Major Characteristics
2005 2006 2005-2006 Change
Motorist Group1
Belt Use2
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group3
Belt Use2
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group3
Change in
Percentage
Points
Confidence in a
Change in Use4 Conversion Rate5
All Motorists 82% 81% -1 19% -6%
Drivers 83% 100% 82% 97% -1 28% -6%
Right-Front Passengers 78% 100% 78% 97% 0 3% 0%
Motorists in States with6
Primary Enforcement Laws 85% 100% 85% 100% 0 4% 0%
Secondary Enforcement Laws 75% 100% 74% 100% -1 17% -4%
Motorists on
Expressways 88% 100% 89% 100% 1 51% 8%
Surface Streets 81% 100% 81% 100% 0 11% 0%
Motorists Traveling in
Fast Traffic 84% 93% 84% 92% 0 11% 0%
Medium-Speed Traffic 83% 85% 83% 91% 0 8% 0%
Slow Traffic 79% 98% 79% 98% 0 11% 0%
Motorists Traveling in
Heavy Traffic 87% 88% 96% 100% 9 69%
Moderately Dense Traffic 86% 93% 85% 87% -1 26% -7%
Light Traffic 81% 95% 81% 93% 0 22% 0%
Motorists Traveling Through
Light Precipitation 81% 64% 82% 74% 1 47% 5%
Light Fog 81% 58% 94% 100% 13 86% 68%
Clear Weather Conditions 82% 64% 81% 97% -1 44% -6%
Motorists in
Passenger Cars 83% 94% 82% 86% -1 32% -6%
Vans and SUVs 85% 100% 84% 97% -1 48% -7%
Pickup Trucks 73% 100% 74% 100% 1 33% 4%
Motorists in the
Northeast 78% 91% 74% 100% -4 72% -18%
Midwest 79% 93% 77% 96% -2 70% -10%
South 82% 69% 83% 89% 1 27% 6%
West 85% 84% 90% 100% 5 98% 33%
Motorists in
Urban Areas 81% 61% 79% 70% -2 21% -11%
Suburban Areas 83% 97% 84% 99% 1 27% 6%
Rural Areas 79% 97% 78% 98% -1 54% -5%
Motorists Traveling During
Weekdays 82% 52% 81% 63% -1 28% -6%
Weekday Rush Hours 83% 85% 83% 89% 0 2% 0%
Weekday Non-Rush Hours 81% 85% 80% 89% -1 35% -5%
Weekends 82% 52% 82% 63% 0 4% 0%
1 Drivers and right-front passengers of passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings.
2 Use of shoulder belts observed between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
3 The level of statistical confidence that use in the motorist group (e.g., motorists in urban areas) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary motorist group
(e.g., motorists in suburban and rural areas). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the nearest
percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent.
4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate.
5 The “conversion rate” is the percentage reduction in belt nonuse. Negative conversion rates reflect a decrease in the estimated use rates.
6 Use rates reflect the laws in effect at the time data was collected.
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590
3
Survey Methodology
The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is the
only probability-based observational survey of seat belt use in
the United States. The survey observes usage as it actually
occurs at a random selection of roadway sites, and so provides
the best tracking of the extent to which motorists in this country
are buckling up.
The survey data is collected by sending trained observers to
probabilistically sampled roadways, who observe vehicles
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Observations are made
either while standing at the roadside or, in the case of
expressways, while riding in a vehicle in traffic. Observers do
not stop vehicles or interview occupants, so that the NOPUS
captures the untainted behavior of motorists. The 2006 NOPUS
data was collected between June 5 and June 26, while the 2005
data was collected between June 6 and June 25, 2005.
Because the NOPUS sites were chosen through probabilistic
means, we can analyze the statistical significance of its results.
Statistically significant increases in belt use between 2005 and
2006 are identified in the table “Seat Belt Use by Major
Characteristics” by having a result that is 90 percent or greater
in the table’s column 7. Statistical confidence levels that seat
belt use in a given motorist group, e.g., motorists in the
Midwest, is higher or lower than in the complementary motorist
group, e.g., motorists in the Northeast, South, and West, are
provided in columns 3 and 5. Such comparisons are made
within categories, such as road type, delineated by changes in
row shading in the tables. The exception to this is the grouping
“Motorists Traveling During …,” in which weekdays are
compared to weekends, and weekday rush hour to weekday nonrush
hour.
The NOPUS uses a complex multistage probability sample,
statistical data editing, imputation of unknown values, and
complex estimation and variance estimation procedures. The
2006 survey results reflect the partial incorporation of a new set
of probabilistically-designed observation sites. Specifically, the
2006 survey utilized half of the observation sites from the
previous survey years and half of the sites from the newly
designed sample of observation sites. The 2005 data was
obtained from the old observation sites only. See the NHTSA
Technical Report referenced below for more information on
these procedures.
Data collection, estimation, and variance estimation for the
NOPUS are conducted by Westat, Inc., under the direction of
the National Center for Statistics and Analysis in NHTSA under
Federal contract number DTNH22-05-D-01002.
Definitions
Under NOPUS observation protocols, a driver or right-front
passenger is considered “belted” if a shoulder belt appears to be
across the front of his/her body.
A jurisdiction that can enforce traffic laws, such as a State or the
District of Columbia, has a “primary enforcement law” if
motorists can be ticketed simply for not using their belts. Under
a “secondary enforcement law” motorists must be stopped for
another violation, such as an expired license tag, before being
cited for belt nonuse. In June 2006, 24 States and the District of
Columbia had primary laws, 25 had secondary laws, and 1 State
(New Hampshire) had a law that applied only to those under the
age of 18. Primary enforcement laws took effect in Alaska,
South Carolina, and Mississippi in May 2006, December 2005,
and May 2006, respectively. With the exception of these States,
no other laws took effect during the period July 1, 2005 – June
30, 2006. A primary law took effect in Kentucky in July 2006,
after the 2006 NOPUS survey was conducted.
The “conversion rate” is the percentage reduction in belt nonuse.
This rate roughly reflects the percentage of belt nonusers in
2005 who were “converted” to using belts in 2006.
"Expressways" are defined to be roadways with limited access,
while "surface streets" comprise all other roadways. “Rush
hour” is defined to comprise the time periods 8 – 10 a.m. and
3:30 – 6 p.m.
A roadway is defined to have "fast traffic" if during the
observation period the average speed of passenger vehicles that
passed the observer(s) exceeded 50 mph, with "medium-speed
traffic" defined as 31 - 50 mph and "slow traffic" defined as 30
mph or slower.
States with Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Laws1
Alabama Alaska California
Connecticut Delaware Georgia
Hawaii Illinois Indiana
Iowa Louisiana Maryland
Michigan Mississippi New Jersey
New Mexico New York North Carolina
Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina
Tennessee Texas Washington
1States with laws in effect as of June 30, 2006. The District of Columbia
also has a primary law. Under a primary enforcement law, motorists can
be stopped and ticketed solely for not using seat belts.
Sites, Vehicles, and Motorists Observed
Numbers of 2005 2006
Sites Observed 1,996 1,878
Vehicles Observed 159,000 126,000
Occupants Observed1 207,000 162,000
1 Drivers and right-front passengers only.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590
4
A roadway is defined to have "heavy traffic" if the average
number of vehicles per lane mile on the roadway during the
observation period exceeded 45 vehicles per lane mile, with
"moderately dense traffic" defined as 26 - 45 vehicles per lane
per mile and "light traffic" having at most 25 vehicles per lane
per mile.
For More Information
For detailed analyses of the data in this publication, as well as
additional data and information on the survey design and
analysis procedures, see the upcoming publication, “Behavioral
Traffic Safety Facts in 2006 – Seat Belt Use, Child Restraint
Use, Motorcycle Helmet Use, and Driver Cell Phone Use,”
expected to be available at the Web site wwwnrd.
nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html in
2007.
For more information on the campaign by NHTSA and the
States to increase seat belt use, see www.buckleupamerica.org.
The NOPUS also observes other types of restraints, such as
child restraints and motorcycle helmets, and observes driver cell
phone use. This publication is part of a series that presents
overall results from the survey on these topics. Please see other
members of the series, such as “Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006
– Overall Results,” for the latest data on these topics.

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NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 1
DOT HS 810 678 November 2006

Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2006 ─ Overall Results


Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D., and Jianqiang Ye
In June 2006, 51 percent of motorcyclists in the United States
used DOT-compliant helmets, a 3-percentage-point increase
from the 2005 rate. This result is from the National Occupant
Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only
probability-based observed data on helmet use in the United
States. The NOPUS is conducted by the National Center for
Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
The 2006 survey also found the following:
• The use of helmets that are not compliant with Federal safety
regulations stands at 14 percent in 2006, statistically
unchanged from the prior year. Such helmets generally have
either an insufficient coverage area or insufficient thickness
to provide adequate protection in a crash.
• The use of DOT-compliant helmets increased by 22
percentage points in the West to 72 percent in 2006.
However, use in rush hours nationwide dropped by 22 points
to 42 percent. These changes are statistically significant.
• Use rates remain statistically lower in States that do not
require all riders to use helmets. In 2006, 68 percent of
motorcyclists in States requiring helmet use wore DOTcompliant
helmets, compared to 37 percent in States not
requiring all to use helmets.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Helmet Use, in Percent
Date Use
Oct 1994 63%
Oct 1996 64%
Oct 1998 67%
Oct 2000 71%
Jun 2002 58%
Jun 2004 58%
Jun 2005 48%
Jun 2006 51%
51%
14%
35%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Compliant
Helmets
Noncompliant
Helmets
No Helmet
Percent of Motorcyclists
68%
37%
15%
13%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
States Requiring All to Use
Helmets
Other States
Percent of Motorcyclists
DOT-Compliant Helmets Noncompliant Helmets
Motorcycle Helmet Use, by Type of Helmet Motorcycle Helmet Use, by State Law and Helmet Type
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
Motorcycle Helmet Use, 1994 - Present
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National
Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National
Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2006
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 2
Use of Helmets Complaint With Federal Safety Regulations, by Major Characteristics
2005 2006 2005-2006 Change
Motorcyclist Group
Helmet Use1
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group2
Helmet Use1
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group2
Change in
Percentage
Points
Confidence in a
Change in Use3
All Motorcyclists 48% 51% 3 33%
Operators 56% 100% 57% 100% 1 12%
Passengers 29% 100% 33% 100% 4 55%
Motorcyclists in States Where4
Use Is Required for All Motorcyclists 67% 100% 68% 100% 1 9%
Other States 38% 100% 37% 100% -1 5%
Motorcyclists on
Expressways 56% 88% 63% 94% 7 68%
Surface Streets 48% 88% 50% 94% 2 30%
Motorcyclists Traveling in
Fast Traffic 57% 93% 49% 61% -8 78%
Medium-Speed Traffic 51% 72% 62% 97% 11 79%
Slow Traffic 42% 89% 43% 96% 1 7%
Motorcyclists Traveling in
Heavy Traffic NA NA NA
Moderately Dense Traffic 62% 85% 72% 94% 10 40%
Light Traffic 48% 90% 50% 95% 2 30%
Motorcyclists in
Light Precipitation 66% 99% NA NA
Light Fog NA 76% 97% NA
Clear Weather Conditions 46% 99% 50% 100% 4 50%
Motorcycle Operators When
They Are the Sole Rider 60% 82% 65% 84% 5 57%
They Have a Passenger 50% 82% 57% 84% 7 52%
Motorcyclists in the
Northeast 42% 67% 47% 71% 5 24%
Midwest 53% 66% 50% 53% -3 13%
South 49% 57% 45% 84% -4 42%
West 50% 59% 72% 100% 22 100%
Motorcyclists in
Urban Areas 50% 61% 53% 58% 3 16%
Suburban Areas 53% 84% 49% 62% -4 48%
Rural Areas 43% 84% 52% 58% 9 68%
Motorcyclists Traveling During
Weekdays 46% 78% 49% 77% 3 23%
Weekday Rush Hours 64% 100% 42% 85% -22 98%
Weekday Non-Rush Hours 38% 100% 52% 85% 14 89%
Weekends 54% 78% 55% 77% 1 9%
Operators of Motorcycles Who
Are Riding Alone 58% 85% 57% 50% -1 14%
Have a Passenger Using a DOT-Compliant Helmet 93% 100% 79% 97% -14 94%
Have a Passenger Using a Noncompliant Helmet 25% 100% 27% 95% 2 14%
Have an Unhelmeted Passenger 39% 98% 51% 78% 12 97%
Passengers on Motorcycles on Which
The Operator Is Using a DOT-Compliant Helmet 56% 100% 46% 62% -10 77%
The Operator Is Using a Noncompliant Helmet 9% 100% 7% 100% -2 7%
The Operator Is Unhelmeted 4% 100% 24% 100% 20 100%
1 Use of helmets meeting the safety requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. among motorcycle operators and
passengers.
2 The level of statistical confidence that use in the motorcyclist group (e.g., motorcyclists in urban areas) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary
motorcyclist group (e.g., motorcyclists in suburban and rural areas). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are
rounded to the nearest percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent.
3 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate.
4 Use rates reflect the laws in effect at the time data was collected.
NA: Data not collected or not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate.
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 3
Use of Noncompliant Helmets, by Major Chracteristics
2005 2006 2005-2006 Change
Motorcyclist Group
Helmet Use1
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group2
Helmet Use1
Confidence
That Use Is
High or Low in
Group2
Change in
Percentage
Points
Confidence in a
Change in Use3
All Motorcyclists 9% 14% 5 86%
Operators 9% 59% 14% 61% 5 87%
Passengers 10% 59% 13% 61% 3 45%
Motorcyclists in States Where4
Use Is Required for All Motorcyclists 12% 87% 15% 64% 3 51%
Other States 8% 87% 13% 64% 5 78%
Motorcyclists on
Expressways 18% 93% 14% 55% -4 40%
Surface Streets 8% 93% 14% 55% 6 91%
Motorcyclists Traveling in
Fast Traffic 16% 95% 10% 87% -6 76%
Medium-Speed Traffic 9% 54% 18% 83% 9 88%
Slow Traffic 7% 87% 13% 65% 6 90%
Motorcyclists Traveling in
Heavy Traffic NA 29% 74% NA
Moderately Dense Traffic 16% 88% 7% 93% -9 68%
Light Traffic 9% 88% 14% 83% 5 87%
Motorcyclists in
Light Precipitation 5% 95% 14% 52% 9 73%
Light Fog NA 16% 55% NA
Clear Weather Conditions 10% 97% 14% 56% 4 79%
Motorcycle Operators When
They Are the Sole Rider 9% 56% 12% 61% 3 42%
They Have a Passenger 8% 56% 19% 61% 11 98%
Motorcyclists in the
Northeast 5% 82% 9% 92% 4 68%
Midwest 8% 58% 14% 50% 6 67%
South 12% 86% 19% 94% 7 86%
West 10% 61% 6% 98% -4 55%
Motorcyclists in
Urban Areas 13% 85% 17% 83% 4 54%
Suburban Areas 10% 66% 14% 59% 4 70%
Rural Areas 8% 78% 13% 62% 5 72%
Motorcyclists Traveling During
Weekdays 10% 98% 14% 54% 4 65%
Weekday Rush Hours 9% 71% 13% 60% 4 37%
Weekday Non-Rush Hours 11% 71% 15% 60% 4 29%
Weekends 5% 98% 13% 54% 8 96%
Operators of Motorcycles Who
Are Riding Alone 10% 67% 12% 88% 2 9%
Have a Passenger Using a DOT-Compliant 3% 100% 4% 99% 1 3%
Have a Passenger Using a Noncompliant Helmet 52% 99% 67% 100% 15 53%
Have an Unhelmeted Passenger 6% 96% 17% 67% 11 53%
Passengers on Motorcycles on Which
The Operator Is Using a DOT-Compliant Helmet 5% 96% 6% 100% 1 2%
The Operator Is Using a Noncompliant Helmet 58% 100% 44% 99% -14 34%
The Operator Is Unhelmeted 8% 58% 3% 100% -5 15%
1 Use of helmets that do not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, observed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. among motorcycle
operators and passengers.
2 The level of statistical confidence that use in the motorcyclist group (e.g., motorcyclists in urban areas) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding
complementary motorcyclist group (e.g., motorcyclists in suburban and rural areas). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface
type. Confidence levels are rounded to the nearest percentage point, and so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0
percent.
3 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate.
4 Use rates reflect the laws in effect at the time data were collected.
NA: Data not collected or not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate.
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 4
Survey Methodology
The National Occupant Protection Use Survey is the only
probability-based observational survey of motorcycle helmet use
in the United States. The survey observes usage as it actually
occurs at a random selection of roadway sites, and so provides
the best tracking of helmet use in this country.
The survey data is collected by sending observers to a set of
probabilistically sampled roadways, who observe motorcyclists
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Observations are made
either while standing at the roadside or, in the case of
expressways, while riding in a vehicle in traffic. Observers do
not stop motorcycles or interview motorcyclists, so that the
NOPUS captures the untainted behavior of riders. The 2006
NOPUS data was collected between June 5 and June 26, while
the 2005 data was collected between June 6 and June 25, 2005.
Because the
NOPUS sites
were chosen
through
probabilistic
means, we can
analyze the
statistical
significance of its results. Statistically significant increases in
helmet use between 2005 and 2006 are identified in the table
“Use of Helmets Compliant with Federal Safety Regulation, by
Major Characteristics” by having a result that is 90 percent or
greater in the table’s column 7, and similarly for the subsequent
table on the use of noncompliant helmets. Statistical confidence
levels that helmet use in a given motorcyclist group, e.g.,
motorcyclists in the Midwest, is higher or lower than the
complementary motorcyclist group, e.g., motorcyclists in the
Northeast, South, and West, are provided in columns 3 and 5.
Such comparisons are made within categories, such as road type,
delineated by changes in row shading in the tables. The
exception to this is the grouping “Motorcyclists Traveling
During …,” in which weekdays are compared to weekends, and
weekday rush hour to weekday non-rush hour.
The NOPUS uses a complex multistage probability sample,
statistical data editing, imputation of unknown values, and
complex estimation and variance estimation procedures. The
2006 survey results reflect the partial incorporation of a new set
of probabilistically-designed observation sites. Specifically, the
2006 survey utilized half of the observation sites from the
previous survey years and half of the sites from the newly
designed sample of observation sites. The 2005 data was
obtained from the old observation sites only. See the upcoming
NHTSA Technical Report referenced below for more
information on these procedures.
Data collection, estimation, and variance estimation for the
NOPUS are conducted by Westat, Inc., under the direction of the
National Center for Statistics and Analysis in NHTSA under
Federal contract number DTNH22-00-D-07001.
Definitions
NHTSA established standards for motorcycle helmets to ensure
a certain degree of protection in a crash in Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 218. (Code of Federal Register, Title
49, Volume 5, Part 571, Section 218, October 2003) DOTcompliant
helmets are helmets that meet this safety standard,
while noncompliant helmets are helmets that do not.
DOT-compliant helmets are marked with an identifying sticker
on the back of the helmet. However, because of the prevalence
of counterfeit stickers, NOPUS data collectors categorize DOTcompliant
helmets as helmets that cover the motorcyclist’s ears
or are at least 1 inch thick.
NHTSA estimates helmet use as the use of DOT-compliant
helmets.
"Expressways" are defined to be roadways with limited access,
while "surface streets" comprise all other roadways. “Rush
hour” is defined to comprise the time periods 8 – 10 a.m. and
3:30 – 6 p.m.
A roadway is defined to have "fast traffic" if during the
observation period the average speed of passenger vehicles that
passed the observer(s) exceeded 50 mph, with "medium-speed
traffic" defined as 31 - 50 mph and "slow traffic" defined as 30
mph or slower.
A roadway is defined to have "heavy traffic" if the average
number of vehicles per lane mile on the roadway during the
observation period exceeded 45 vehicles per lane mile, with
"moderately dense traffic" defined as 26 - 45 vehicles per lane
per mile and "light traffic" having at most 25 vehicles per lane
per mile.
At the time the 2006 and 2005 surveys were conducted, 20
States and the District of Columbia required all motorcyclists to
be helmeted. Other States either required only a subset of riders
to use helmets (such as those under 18 years old), or had no
helmet requirement.
Numbers of 2005 2006
Sites Observed 1,996 1,878
Motorcycles Observed 1,300 1,200
Motorcyclists Observed 1,700 1,600
States With Laws1 Requiring Helmet Use For All
Motorcycle Riders
Alabama Michigan North Carolina
California Mississippi Oregon
District of Columbia Missouri Tennessee
Georgia Nebraska Vermont
Louisiana Nevada Virginia
Maryland New Jersey Washington
Massachusetts New York West Virginia
1States and the District of Columbia with laws in effect as of June 30, 2006.
No State laws took effect during the period July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590 5
For More Information
For detailed analyses of the data in this publication, as well as
additional data and information on the survey design and
analysis procedures, see the upcoming publication, “Behavioral
Traffic Safety Facts in 2006 – Seat Belt Use, Child Restraint
Use, Motorcycle Helmet Use, and Driver Cell Phone Use,”
expected to be available at the Web site wwwnrd.
nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html in
2007.
The NOPUS also observes other types of restraints, such as child
restraints and seat belts, and observes driver cell phone use.
This publication is part of a series that presents overall results
from the survey on these topics. Please see other members of
the series, such as “Child Restraint Use in 2006 – Overall
Results,” for the latest data on these topics.