For the second year in a row Tennessee has reached the highest record of seat belt usage.
Tennessee Highway Safety Office has released the results from their annual observational survey that determines the state’s average seat belt usage rate. The Statewide seat belt usage has increased .2 percent since Tennessee’s 2023 survey which was at 92.0 percent. The 2024 survey result is Tennessee’s highest annual seat belt usage rate to date.
The survey includes:
• Research data was collected at 190 pre-identified roadway locations across Tennessee.
• Researchers observed almost 29,000 vehicle occupants.
• Vehicles observed included passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs.
• The highest usage rate was observed among occupants in sport utility vehicles (96.3 percent).
• The lowest usage rate was observed among occupants in pickup trucks (84.6 percent).
• Female occupants were observed to have a higher usage rate (96.2 percent) than males (89.2 percent).
• Front-seat passengers were observed to have a higher usage rate (92.3 percent) than drivers (92.1 percent).
• County-level usage rates exceeded 90 percent in 14 of 16 counties included in the survey’s sample.
• McMinn County had the highest usage rate (97 percent) among sampled counties.
• The 2024 survey captured Tennessee’s all-time high average seat belt usage rate for the second year in a row.
“For the second year in a row, Tennessee achieved its highest seat belt usage rate on record,” said Tennessee Highway Safety Office Director, Buddy Lewis. “We appreciate all of our traffic safety partners for prioritizing occupant protection, spreading awareness, and engaging local communities. We look forward to continuing these partnerships as we work to reduce serious injuries and traffic fatalities.”
