The effectiveness of seat belt legislation in reducing driver-involved injury rates in Maryland

This study makes use of econometric models to evaluate the effect of the Maryland seat belt law (SBL) on various driver-involved injury rates. Models are developed for various types of injuries using a large data set from the US Department of Transportation's State Traffic Accident Files. Models are normalized for vehicle damage levels and account for the general impact of the SBL in Maryland as well as its dynamic effects. The models also account for seasonal factors, unemployment rates, companion effects and other relevant factors. The analysis is conducted for single vehicle accidents, multiple vehicle accidents, as well as their combination. The results indicate that the effectiveness of Maryland's SBL vary depending on the type of injury rates examined.