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Safety Belt Statistics

Safety Belt Wearing Rates for Front Seat Adults

In the survey carried out in March and April 2002, more than 42,900 adult front seat drivers and passengers were surveyed at 114 sites around the country.

Region 2001 2002 2003
Northland 88% 93% 90%
Auckland 94% 91% 95%
Waikato 93% 94% 93%
Bay of Plenty 94% 95% 93%
Gisborne 94% 95% 96%
Hawkes Bay 82% 90% 90%
Taranaki 93% 96% 93%
Manawatu-Wanganui 88% 88% 88%
Wellington 94% 93% 91%
Nelson-Marlborough 94% 95% 96%
West Coast 94% 90% 90%
Canterbury 92% 93% 92%
Otago 95% 95% 92%
Southland 93% 87% 93%
National 92% 92% 92%




Safety Belt Wearing Rates for Rear Seat Adults

In the survey carried out in November and December 2002, rear seat passengers in more than 17,000 cars were observed at 126 sites around the country.

Region 2001 2002 2003
Northland 72% 84% 87%
Auckland 84% 84% 82%
Waikato 80% 78% 82%
Bay of Plenty 53% 79% 70%
Gisborne 55% 54% 69%
Hawkes Bay 52% 81% 76%
Taranaki 65% 81% 83%
Manawatu-Wanganui 73% 79% 85%
Wellington 71% 77% 82%
Nelson-Marlborough 82% 77% 90%
West Coast 82% 79% 78%
Canterbury 58% 76% 82%
Otago 85% 88% 79%
Southland 76% 67% 88%
National 70% 80% 81%




Child Restraints in Cars

In the survey carried out in December 2002, children aged under 5 years in more than 7,000 cars were observed at 110 sites around the country. The table shows the percentage restrained in approved child restraints. In the 2002 survey, 45% were restrained in child seats, 25% in booster seats, 16% in infant seats, and 1% in child harnesses. A further 9% were restrained by adult safety belts.

Region 2001 2002 2003
Northland 69% 85% 84%
Auckland 77% 83% 82%
Waikato 81% 88% 90%
Bay of Plenty 78% 87% 78%
Gisborne 79% 69% 76%
Hawkes Bay 90% 94% 83%
Taranaki 78% 95% 91%
Manawatu-Wanganui 81% 84% 89%
Wellington 84% 82% 90%
Nelson-Marlborough 79% 94% 92%
West Coast 83% 92% 92%
Canterbury 94% 91% 93%
Otago 97% 97% 90%
Southland 76% 81% 88%
National 82% 86% 86%