Abstract: The present invention consists of a seat belt usage monitoring system which strongly encourages seat belt usage by providing a GPS receiver; a system for detecting seat belt usage by the driver and/or occupants of a vehicle which consists of a infrared emitter and receiver with retro-reflective material mounted or embedded within the seat belt shoulder harnesses; erasable, encodable storage means for recording duration of seat belt use, location at time of crash or collision, duration of travel, direction, velocity and time of travel, all of which is contained in a black box, wherein the data may be downloaded after an accident by law enforcement personnel. In such a manner, accident liability may be better determined, insurance rates could be lowered for the owner of the vehicle if it is shown seat belts were used consistently, but most important, the owner/driver of a vehicle is strongly compelled to buckle up and require all passengers to do likewise thereby reducing deaths and injuries.