More evidence on the effectiveness of seat belt laws

A state cross-sectional model of traffic fatalities estimates the effectiveness of seat belt laws. Seat belt laws have no statistically significant effect on total or occupant fatalities. However, the results suggest that seat belt laws lead to increased non-occupant deaths possibly as a result of more dangerous driving. In an indirect fashion, the zero effect of seat belt laws on total fatalities may provide an argument for a favourable occupant effect that is offset by the unfavourable non-occupant effect.