Safety Belt Statistics - Front Seat 2009
Last updated on
23/07/2009 9:55 a.m.
Safety belt wearing by adult front seat occupants: Results of national survey, March / April 2009
The latest annual national survey of safety belt use in New Zealand by adults in the front seats of cars and vans was carried out in March and April 2009. More than 90,000 drivers and adult front seat passengers were observed at 274 sites around the country. As in previous years, each site was surveyed between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on normal working weekdays during the school term.
In 2009, the safety belt wearing rate for drivers and adult front seat passengers was 95%. This result indicates that the improvements made in earlier years are being maintained (see Table 1).
The wearing rates for various categories of front seat occupant are shown in Table 1. As observed in previous years, travellers on the open road had a higher wearing rate than those in urban areas (96% and 95%, respectively) and males were less likely to wear their safety belts than females (also see Figure 1). Five percent of male drivers and ten percent of male passengers were not wearing a safety belt, compared to three percent of female drivers and three percent of female passengers. Over the last 10 years, wearing rates have increased significantly, especially for male drivers and passengers.
Table 1. Safety belt wearing rates for front seat adults by category (%)
| Category |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Urban |
88
|
90
|
91
|
91
|
93
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
95
|
| Open road |
92
|
93
|
93
|
93
|
95
|
96
|
97
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
| Drivers |
90
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
| Passengers |
90
|
92
|
93
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
96
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
| Males |
87
|
89
|
90
|
89
|
92
|
93
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
| Male drivers |
88
|
89
|
90
|
90
|
92
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
94
|
95
|
| Male passengers |
83
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
89
|
90
|
93
|
90
|
91
|
90
|
| Females |
93
|
95
|
95
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
| Female drivers |
94
|
95
|
95
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
| Female passengers |
93
|
94
|
95
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
97
|
97
|
96
|
97
|
| All New Zealand |
90
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
95
|
Figure 1. Safety belt wearing rates for front seat adults, 1996-2009
Regional Wearing Rates
These restraint wearing surveys are designed to provide a consistent measure of safety belt use over time by surveying the same sites in each region each year.
Table 2 shows the safety belt wearing rates in each Local Government region over the last ten years. In 2009, at least 3,600 drivers and front seat occupants were surveyed in each region, except in Gisborne where 1117 occupants were surveyed.
Overall, all regions show generally increasing trends in seatbelt usage since 1998. Seatbelt usage has increased significantly* since last year in Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, and Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman. It has decreased since last year in Northland, Waikato, and Manawatu. Other regions have not changed markedly since last year, and are continuing to follow a similar pattern to the national wearing rate.
*Increase/ decreases have been commented on when the change is considered to be statistically significant; that is, the change in the wearing rate observed in the survey is likely to reflect a real change in the wearing rate.
Table 2. Front seat adult safety belt wearing rates by Local Government Region (%)
| Local government region |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Northland |
83
|
88
|
93
|
90
|
93
|
93
|
98
|
100
|
90
|
87
|
| Auckland |
94
|
94
|
91
|
95
|
96
|
97
|
97
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
| Waikato |
90
|
93
|
94
|
93
|
94
|
96
|
94
|
95
|
97
|
95
|
| Bay of Plenty |
92
|
94
|
95
|
93
|
95
|
93
|
95
|
94
|
93
|
96
|
| Gisborne |
97
|
94
|
95
|
96
|
92
|
92
|
96
|
78
|
85
|
86
|
| Hawkes Bay |
81
|
82
|
90
|
90
|
91
|
91
|
97
|
94
|
89
|
97
|
| Taranaki |
92
|
93
|
96
|
93
|
92
|
96
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
96
|
| Manawatu-Wanganui |
87
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
92
|
92
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
95
|
| Wellington |
89
|
94
|
93
|
91
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
| Nelson/Malborough/Tasman |
90
|
94
|
95
|
96
|
96
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
98
|
| West Coast |
82
|
94
|
90
|
90
|
93
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
96
|
| Canterbury |
92
|
92
|
93
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
94
|
97
|
96
|
96
|
| Otago |
94
|
95
|
95
|
92
|
94
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
97
|
97
|
| Southland |
95
|
93
|
87
|
93
|
96
|
97
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
96
|
| All New Zealand |
90
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
Note. The accuracy of the wearing rates shown here depends on the sample sizes (the number of vehicle occupants observed). If the sample size is small, the data may show large random fluctuations in the observed wearing rate. Gisborne region is most affected, with a sample size of less than 300 occupants in 1999 and 600-900 occupants in 2000-2008. Typically, sample sizes in other regions have been over 1000 occupants prior to 2003 and over 3600 occupants since then.
Metropolitan Area Wearing Rates
Table 3 shows the wearing rates for selected metropolitan areas over the last ten years. The observed front seat belt wearing rate has increased in Waitakere and Wellington. Auckland has decreased. Wearing rates in the other metropolitan areas are similar to previous years.
Table 3. Front seat adult safety belt wearing rates by Metropolitan area (%)
| Metropolitan area |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| North Shore |
93
|
96
|
87
|
98
|
97
|
98
|
96
|
96
|
98
|
99
|
| Waitakere |
92
|
93
|
92
|
92
|
98
|
98
|
97
|
98
|
92
|
98
|
| Auckland City |
97
|
99
|
98
|
99
|
96
|
98
|
100
|
98
|
98
|
95
|
| Manukau |
94
|
89
|
83
|
93
|
93
|
97
|
93
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
| Hamilton |
91
|
96
|
91
|
96
|
96
|
99
|
98
|
95
|
96
|
95
|
| Wellington City |
92
|
94
|
93
|
96
|
97
|
98
|
98
|
92
|
98
|
99
|
| Christchurch |
94
|
86
|
94
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
97
|
96
|
95
|
96
|
| Dunedin |
96
|
96
|
98
|
95
|
92
|
97
|
94
|
97
|
98
|
98
|
Note. The accuracy of wearing rates shown here depends on the sample sizes (the number of vehicle occupants observed). If the sample size is small, the data may show large random fluctuations in the observed wearing rate.
Police District Wearing Rates
National restraint wearing surveys are designed to provide a consistent measure of safety belt use over time, by surveying the same sites in each district each year.
Auckland and Northland have declined from previously high levels in 2006-2007. Eastern has started approaching national levels after a decline in 2007-2008.
Table 4 shows the safety belt wearing rates in each Police District over the last ten years.
Table 4. Front seat adult safety belt wearing rates by Police District (%)
| Police District |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Northland |
83
|
88
|
93
|
90
|
93
|
93
|
98
|
99
|
90
|
87
|
| Waitemata |
92
|
95
|
93
|
96
|
98
|
98
|
98
|
97
|
96
|
98
|
| Auckland |
97
|
99
|
98
|
99
|
96
|
98
|
100
|
98
|
98
|
95
|
| Counties/Manukau |
95
|
89
|
86
|
93
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
94
|
95
|
96
|
| Waikato |
89
|
91
|
96
|
92
|
94
|
96
|
94
|
95
|
97
|
95
|
| Bay of Plenty |
92
|
95
|
94
|
94
|
95
|
94
|
95
|
94
|
94
|
95
|
| Eastern |
84
|
84
|
91
|
90
|
91
|
91
|
97
|
91
|
89
|
95
|
| Central |
89
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
92
|
93
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
95
|
| Wellington |
89
|
94
|
93
|
91
|
94
|
96
|
96
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
| Tasman |
86
|
94
|
92
|
93
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
97
|
| Canterbury |
92
|
92
|
93
|
92
|
94
|
96
|
94
|
97
|
96
|
96
|
| Southern |
95
|
94
|
92
|
93
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
96
|
97
|
| All New Zealand |
90
|
92
|
92
|
92
|
94
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
95
|
Local Authority Wearing Rates
Front seat safety belt wearing rates at Local Authority level are presented in Table 5.
Table 5. Front seat adult safety belt wearing rates by Territorial Local Authority (%)
| Local authority/authorities |
N |
Wearing rate % |
|
Northland
|
| Far North |
1542 |
91
|
| Whangarei |
1410 |
86
|
| Kaipara |
1084 |
84 |
|
Auckland
|
| Rodney |
1244 |
97 |
| North Shore City |
935 |
99 |
| Waitakere |
1414 |
98 |
| Auckland |
1460 |
95 |
| Manukau |
1566 |
96 |
| Papakura |
1249 |
96 |
| Franklin |
1222 |
95 |
|
Waikato
|
| Thames-Coromandel |
1820 |
98 |
| Hauraki |
1322 |
93 |
| Waikato |
1285 |
90 |
| Matamata-Piako |
1364 |
94 |
| Hamilton |
1523 |
95 |
| Waipa |
1580 |
96 |
| Waitomo/Otorohanga |
1420 |
95 |
| South Waikato |
1606 |
95 |
| Taupo |
1425 |
93 |
|
Bay of Plenty
|
| Western Bay of Plenty |
1785 |
94 |
| Tauranga |
1777 |
96 |
| Rotorua |
1586 |
96 |
| Whakatane |
1422 |
99 |
| Kawerau/Opotiki |
918 |
94 |
| Gisborne |
1117 |
86 |
|
Hawke's Bay
|
| Wairoa |
1240 |
96 |
| Hastings |
1561 |
98 |
| Napier |
1546 |
99 |
| Central Hawke's Bay |
1162 |
95 |
|
Taranaki
|
| New Plymouth |
1559 |
95 |
| Stratford |
806 |
99 |
| South Taranaki |
1408 |
97 |
|
Manawatu-Wanganui
|
| Ruapehu |
995 |
89 |
| Wanganui |
1173 |
92 |
| Rangitikei |
1123 |
97 |
| Manawatu |
1140 |
97 |
| Palmerston North |
1580 |
98 |
| Tararua |
1221 |
95 |
| Horowhenua |
1297 |
95 |
|
Wellington
|
|
Kapiti Coast
|
1536 |
93 |
| Porirua |
1397 |
96 |
| Upper Hutt |
1386 |
98 |
| Hutt City |
1559 |
98 |
| Wellington |
1511 |
99 |
| Masterton |
1461 |
92 |
| South Wairarapa/Carteron |
1313 |
90 |
|
Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman
|
| Tasman |
1522 |
97 |
| Nelson |
1529 |
99 |
| Marlborough |
1556 |
97 |
| Kaikoura |
845 |
96 |
|
West Coast
|
| Buller |
1019 |
93 |
| Grey |
1366 |
98 |
| Westland |
1272 |
95 |
|
Canterbury
|
| Hurunui |
1352 |
95 |
| Waimakariri |
1403 |
96 |
| Christchurch |
2757 |
95 |
| Selwyn |
1318 |
97 |
| Ashburton |
1395 |
98 |
| Timaru |
1407 |
96 |
| Mackenzie |
1043 |
96 |
| Waimate |
946 |
97 |
|
Otago
|
| Waitaki |
998 |
96 |
| Central Otago |
1289 |
96 |
| Queenstown-Lakes |
1540 |
96 |
| Dunedin |
1544 |
98 |
| Clutha |
1305 |
99 |
|
Southland
|
| Southland |
1314 |
96 |
| Gore |
1322 |
95 |
| Invercargill |
1442 |
96 |
Note. N = number of car/van occupants observed.
Police Area Wearing Rates
Front seat safety belt wearing rates at Police area level are presented in Table 6.
Table 6. Front seat adult safety belt wearing rates by Police Area (%)
| Police Area |
N |
Wearing rate (%) |
|
Northland
|
| Far North |
1542 |
91 |
| Whangerei |
2494 |
85 |
|
Waitemata
|
| Rodney |
1244 |
97 |
| North Shore |
935 |
99 |
| Waitakere |
1414 |
98 |
|
Auckland
|
| Auckland City/West |
718 |
94 |
| Auckland East |
742 |
95 |
| Counties/Manukau |
| Counties-Manukau West |
799 |
95 |
| Counties-Manukau East |
767 |
97 |
| Counties-Manukau South |
2471 |
96 |
|
Waikato
|
| Waikato East |
4506 |
96 |
| Waikato West |
4285 |
94 |
| Hamilton |
1523 |
95 |
|
Bay of Plenty
|
| Taupo |
3031 |
94 |
| Western Bay of Plenty |
3562 |
95 |
| Rotorua |
1586 |
96 |
| Eastern Bay of Plenty |
2340 |
97 |
|
Eastern
|
| Gisborne |
2357 |
91 |
| Hastings |
2723 |
97 |
| Napier |
1546 |
99 |
|
Central
|
| New Plymouth |
1559 |
95 |
| Ruapehu |
1323 |
91 |
| Rural Taranaki |
2214 |
98 |
| Wanganui |
1670 |
93 |
| Palmerston North Rural |
3956 |
96 |
| Palmerston North City |
1580 |
98 |
|
Wellington
|
| Kapiti - Mana |
2933 |
95 |
| Upper Hutt |
1386 |
98 |
| Lower Hutt |
1559 |
98 |
| Wellington |
1511 |
99 |
| Wairarapa |
2774 |
91 |
|
Tasman
|
| Nelson Bays |
3051 |
98 |
| Marlborough |
2401 |
97 |
| West Coast |
3657 |
96 |
|
Canterbury
|
| Northern Canterbury |
2755 |
95 |
| Christchurch Central |
1554 |
96 |
| Southern Canterbury |
2521 |
96 |
| Mid-South Canterbury |
4791 |
97 |
|
Southern
|
| Otago Rural |
3827 |
96 |
| Dunedin |
2849 |
99 |
| Southland |
4078 |
96 |
Note. N = number of car/van occupants observed.
Downloads:
Front seatbelt Survey Results 2009 (PDF, v7.0, 163kb)
Front seatbelt Regional graphs 2009 (PDF, v7.0, 60.2kb)
Front seatbelt Police District graphs 2009 (PDF, v7.0, 49.8kb)