This publication is an official federal Traffic Safety Facts Research Note issued in May 2026 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics and Analysis. The document details the methodology and structural framework of the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which is the only annual, probability-based observational study in the United States designed to monitor daylight restraint usage. Rather than relying on self-reported driver surveys or post-crash police reports, the study's design utilizes trained field observers who physically stand at randomly selected roadside locations or ride along expressways to record actual seat belt behavior in real-time without stopping vehicles or interviewing motorists. The survey employs a complex, multistage probability sampling protocol—executed in partnership with Westat, Inc.—that annually catalogs observations of over 140,000 front-seat occupants across varying vehicle types, roadway classes, environmental settings, traffic densities, and regional jurisdictions. Ultimately, this publication acts as a highly standardized, objective statistical instrument used by safety planners to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of state legislative policies (such as primary versus secondary enforcement laws) and national occupant protection campaigns.

Resource Types: Case Study/Practice Example, Research Report
Capabilities: Data & Information Systems
Management Processes: Monitoring & Adjustment, Performance Reporting & Communication, Risk Management