The Utah Crash Report Form has two elements regarding safety equipment use which applies to all vehicle occupants, including motorcycle operators and passengers, as well as all non-motorists.
The first element, Safety Equipment Used, refers to the type of safety equipment which was in use at the time of the crash. This element does not refer to what type of safety equipment was installed in the vehicle, or what the person should have been wearing or using, but what was actually in use by each person.
The second element, Used Properly/Improper Use, refers to whether the safety equipment in use was used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This element should not apply if the person was not using any type of safety equipment. (The state validations require the value to be “NA” for “Not Applicable” if an officer indicates no safety equipment was being used.
Selected definitions:
Lap and Shoulder Belt: vehicle occupant was using both a lap and shoulder belt, or either the lap or shoulder belt portion of a combination assembly.
Example: A driver or passenger is using a lap and shoulder belt combination but has the shoulder belt portion either under their arm or behind their back. This person is using a lap and shoulder belt, but is using it improperly.
Lap belt only and shoulder belt only apply to seating positions where only a lap belt is installed or where the lap and shoulder belt are installed and used independent of one another.
Helmet: motorcycle rider or non-motorist is wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. If the motorcycle rider or non-motorist is wearing a helmet and other safety equipment, such as pads or a reflective vest, then select “Helmet and other.”
Example: Motorcycle rider is wearing a helmet and a reflective vest. During the crash the helmet comes off the rider. The safety equipment used would still be “Helmet and other.”
Other*: used when the person was utilizing, properly or not, a type of safety equipment not specifically listed.
Example: A jogger is wearing reflective clothing, or a motorcycle rider is wearing a reflective vest but no helmet.
For more information contact the Barbra Freeman at (801)783-7250