The effectiveness of seat belt legislation in reducing various driver-involved injury rates in California.

This study makes use of econometric models to examine the impact of seat belt laws on various driver-involved injury rates in California in both single- and multiple-vehicle accidents. The study makes use of a large data set from the U.S. D.O.T. State Traffic Accident Files and accounts for the general impact of seat belt laws as well as their dynamic effects on injury rates. The models adjust for a wide range of additional contributing factors to injury rates, including the influence of unemployment rates, speed limits, companion effects, and others. Robust results are obtained for the efficacy of seat belt legislation on reducing (moderate to fatal) injury rates in California.