Use of seat belts climbs to nearly 80 percent, study finds

More drivers of commercial vehicles are wearing seat belts these days, according to a new study.

An annual survey by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found nearly 80 percent of drivers of medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses wore seat belts in 2010 -- compared to 65 percent in 2007.

Transportation accidents continue to be the top cause of on-the-job injuries. A study in 2007 found that of the drivers of large trucks killed in traffic crashes that year, 21 percent were not wearing a safety belt, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers.

ASSE released the study during the North American Occupational Safety and Health week in early May. Additional findings from the survey include: Seat belt usage for other occupants in commercial motor vehicles increased to 64 percent in 2010 from 61 percent in 2009.Safety belt use was higher in states governed by primary belt use laws -- 80 percent -- than in secondary belt use laws -- 72 percent.The use of seat belts was higher among drivers and other occupants in units identified as part of a fleet -- 80 percent -- than independent owner operators -- 71 percent.

The survey included 26,830 drivers and 1,929 other occupants observed at nearly 1,000 sites throughout the country.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

View the original article here