Seat belt use on rural roads is especially important due to the relatively high risk for injury compared to urban areas. In the northern plains, where nearly 90% of travel occurs on rural roads, addressing this issue is particularly critical. A cohort group of 32 states was used to study seat belt use...

North Dakota's rural roads are vital social and economic connectors. These roads, however, are associated with relatively high crash injury risk. While a multitude of efforts is underway to reduce crash risk through road improvements and vehicle technology, seat belts offer an immediate and low-cost...

Seat belts are a primary motor vehicle safety device. Studies have shown that seat belts not only decrease the likelihood of being injured in a crash, they also save lives (Abdel-Aty, 2003; Yamamoto and Shankar, 2004). Because of this, seat belt use is a primary concern of traffic safety professionals....