With the understanding that seat belts are a relatively low-cost safety device, and are an easy primary protection for occupants in passenger vehicles, North Dakota has chosen to continue to measure seat belt use on non-interstate rural roads. In 2001, 88% of fatal crashes occurred on rural roads. During the past five years, 9 of every 10 fatal crashes occurred on non-interstate rural roads. Understanding tendencies and trends in seat belt use on these rural roads is essential to wise decisions regarding efforts to encourage seat belt use in the state.