A Tennessee Highway Safety Office annual roadside observational survey has determined a statewide seatbelt usage rate of 90.1%.

This is a decrease from the statewide 91.7% seatbelt usage rate in 2019. Tennessee did not conduct a statewide survey in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“The purpose of this annual survey is to help the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and traffic safety partners identify the demographics and areas of the state most in need of education and outreach to increase seatbelt usage,” said THSO director Buddy Lewis. “Our goal is to reach as many drivers as possible to help reduce traffic injuries and fatalities across Tennessee.”  

Lewis added, “We know seatbelts save lives.”

Highlights from Tennessee’s 2021 seatbelt survey are as follows.

• Research data was collected at 190 roadway locations across Tennessee.

• Researchers observed more than 29,000 vehicle occupants.

• Vehicles observed included passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs.

• Pickup trucks displayed the lowest usage rate at 83.3%.

• Overall, female occupants displayed a higher usage rate at 94.5% than males at 87.3%.

Data was collected during the spring of 2021 in accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards.