According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) newly released Traffic Safety Facts Research Note - Sept 2009, seat belt use the United States in 2009 stood at 84 percent, a gain from 83 percent use in 2008. The survey also found the following:

• Seat belt use for occupants traveling during weekends increased to 86 percent in 2009 (83% in 2008), which showsa signifcant annual increase.
• Seat belt use continues to be higher in the States in which vehicle occupants can be pulled over solely for not usingseat belts (“primary law” States) as compared with the States with a weaker enforcement law (“secondary law”States).

Seat belt use has been increasing steadily since 1994, accompanied by a steady decline in the percentage of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities during daytime.

I amazes me that when a nation puts its mind to something, it can accomplish quite a bit. What also amazes me is how long it takes to make a significant change in a nation's behavior. We still have people that drive without seat belts or who do not force their older children to buckle up. We still have people that drink and drive.

Most states are doing a decent PR and legal job on driving and mobile phone, the next long-term challenge is driving and texting. Both of these challenges will required hundreds of million of dollars and will take years. But even then, people will do what they want. If a 84 percent compliance is good indication of fifteen years worth of effort, reducing driving and mobile phone talking/dialing and driving and texting will take a long time and never be complete.