WASHINGTON — Three in four truck and bus drivers wear their seatbelts, a significant increase over a few years ago.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 74 percent of truckers are vigilant about wearing their safety belts, compared to only 65 percent of commercial drivers in 2007.

The FMCSA observed 20,818 commercial drivers operating medium to heavy-duty trucks and buses at 827 roadside sites nationwide for the survey.

According to the survey, safety belt use for both drivers and their occupants was 78 percent in states where law enforcement may stop drivers for not buckling up, versus 67 percent in states with weaker belt use laws.

In addition, there was higher seat belt use among drivers for regional or national fleets (78 percent), while only 64 percent of owner-operators were using safety belts.

Usage rates were highest at 79 percent in the West, compared with 75 percent in the South, 68 percent in the Midwest, and 64 percent in the Northeast.