Increasing Seat Belt Use in the United States

This executive order mandates that federal employees wear seat belts during official travel and requires seat belt use in national parks and on Defense Department installations. It also encourages tribal governments and federal contractors to adopt seat belt policies, directs agencies to conduct education programs, and requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit annual reports on compliance and crash statistics.

Federal Register Open PDF 62 FR 19217

Impact dates

Apr 16, 1998
Annual report to President on seat belt use rates and statistics
Apr 16, 1997
Federal agencies to seek to encourage contractors/subcontractors/grantees in contracts entered after this date

Key directives

Federal employees must wear seat belts on official business when seats are equipped
Operators and passengers must wear seat belts in national parks and on Defense installations
Federal agencies shall seek to encourage contractors, subcontractors, and grantees to adopt on-the-job seat belt policies in contracts entered after April 16, 1997
Tribal governments encouraged to adopt seat belt policies in Indian Country
All executive branch agencies directed to promulgate rules and conduct education programs
National Park Service and Department of Defense directed to initiate rulemaking for enhanced requirements and primary enforcement
Secretary of Transportation to provide leadership and guidance to agencies
Secretary of Transportation to submit annual report to President on seat belt use rates, crash statistics, and notable agency programs
Secretary of Defense to implement provisions for DOD vehicles as practicable
Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney General to determine applicability to protective and law enforcement activities

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Federal employees required to wear seat belts on official business
Seat belt use mandated in national parks and on Defense installations
Executive Order 12566 revoked

Near term (90d)

Agencies directed to promulgate rules and conduct education programs
National Park Service and Department of Defense directed to initiate rulemaking for enhanced enforcement

Long term

Annual reporting by Secretary of Transportation on seat belt use rates and crash statistics
Ongoing encouragement of tribal governments and contractors to adopt policies

Risks & tensions

Enforcement mechanisms unclear for federal employee compliance; relies on agency education rather than specified penalties
Tribal government provisions are purely voluntary ('encouraged'), creating uncertainty about effectiveness
'As far as practicable' qualifier for DOD implementation may limit military applicability
Primary enforcement rulemaking timeline unspecified—could delay enhanced enforcement in parks and on bases
Potential tension between seat belt requirements and law enforcement/protective activities as noted in Sec. 6(e)