Truckers are getting better about buckling up, but their seatbelt use is notably lower than for four-wheelers. In 2005, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration observed 4,740 trucks, or 20 percent more trucks than in its 2002 study.
Class 7 and 8 drivers increased belt use from 48 percent in 2002 to 54 percent in 2005, compared to 83 percent belt use for passenger vehicles in 2005. During that three-year period, national and regional fleets improved belt use from 55 percent to 63 percent, while independent and local fleets remained at 44 percent.
FMCSA researchers also found:
