Analysis of a study conducted by the Fatal Accident Reporting System indicates that among covered car occupants in 24 belt-law jurisdictions, fatalities were 6.6 percent lower than the number forecast from past trends. Among other victims, fatalities were 2 percent above the forecast level. In several belt-law States there was a break in the trend for covered occupants significantly associated with the month of the law's onset, but no such significant shifts in fatality trends were found among the "other" group. Injury data from Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and Texas indicate a decrease among covered occupants of motor vehicles with the onset of seat-belt laws. In virtually every State, a substantial increase in belt use followed the effective date of the law, doubling or even tripling prelaw usage in most cases. Belt usage is higher in those States with higher enforcement levels. The reduction in injuries due to seat-belt laws has been greater in foreign countries with seat-belt laws, however, probably due to readiness for seat-belt laws, controversy regarding occupant restraint issues in the United States, publicity, and characteristics of the respective countries. 20 references.