Michigan's safety belt use rate remains relatively unchanged at 94 percent.  Wayne State University's Transportation Research Group conducted the direct observation survey in the late spring, in conjunction with the annual statewide safety belt mobilization.
 

"This is very good news," said Michael L. Prince, director of the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).  "We can be assured gains made in recent years have become lifestyle changes for many motorists."

Last year, Michigan's safety belt use rate rose to 94.1 percent, second only to Washington State for 2006.  It will be several months before all 2007 safety belt use rates are certified and officially announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 

While the number indicates exceptionally high safety belt use in the state, it reflects daylight use rates.  Nationally and in Michigan, greater attention is being focused on nighttime belt use.  Crash statistics indicate belt use falls significantly during late night and early morning hours. 
 

According to figures from the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center:
 

• Safety belt use in daytime fatal crashes is 85 percent, but that figure falls to 62 percent at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.).

• In 2006, 107 vehicle occupants in Michigan died unbelted in nighttime crashes.

• The vast majority of these unbelted fatalities are male: 84 male, 23 female.

• Nighttime belt use in fatal crashes is lowest among drivers ages 21-24, about 60 percent.

• The problem is more pronounced among alcohol and/or drug involved fatal crashes during the nighttime. Safety belt use is even lower, about 50 percent, for this group of occupants.

Several Michigan counties ran a single night of safety belt enforcement as a pilot to determine the feasibility of expanding enforcement beyond daylight hours.  The results and findings are being evaluated.