Every time you get into a vehicle, do you reach for the seat belt and buckle up? If you've ever wondered if the people driving around you are strapped in, a recent study shows many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt.
The percentage of people buckling up nationwide reached an all-time high of 91.9% last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The NHTSA's annual National Occupant Protection Use Survey shows 27 states and the District of Columbia achieved seat belt use rates of 90% or higher in 2023.
According to the survey, seat belt use continued to be higher in the west region compared to the other regions of the country. The west includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The survey also found that seat belt use continued to be higher in "primary
law states," where vehicles can be pulled over solely for occupants not using seat belts, compared to states with weaker or no seat belt enforcement laws.
As of September, 34 states have primary seat belt laws, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Fifteen states have secondary laws, and one state effectively has no adult seat belt law. In New Hampshire, it's legal for occupants over age 18 to ride unbelted.
The survey shows that 71% of states with primary enforcement laws have seat belt use rates of 90% or higher, as opposed to 13% among states with secondary or no laws.
Seat belt use in 2023 by state
Alabama -- 93.4%
Alaska -- 95.2%
Arizona -- 87.8%
Arkansas -- 79.7%
California -- 96.2%
Colorado -- 88.6%
Connecticut -- 93.5%
Delaware -- 93.9%
Dist. of Columbia -- 94.6%
Florida -- 89.4%
Georgia -- 87.6%
Hawaii -- 98.4%
Idaho -- 87.5%
Illinois -- 92.9%
Indiana -- 93.2%
Iowa -- 96.9%
Kansas -- 85.3%
Kentucky -- 89.4%
Louisiana -- 85.6%
Maine -- 94.5%
Maryland -- 92.1%
Massachusetts -- 80.4%
Michigan -- 92.4%
Minnesota -- 94.2%
Mississippi -- 82.2%
Missouri -- 87.0%
Montana -- 81.1%
Nebraska -- 77.3%
Nevada -- 93.5%
New Hampshire -- 77.9%
New Jersey -- 92.9%
New Mexico -- 91.5%
New York -- 94.1%
North Carolina -- 92.2%
North Dakota -- 78.5%
Ohio -- 84.8%
Oklahoma -- 81.2%
Oregon -- 97.0%
Pennsylvania -- 87.7%
Rhode Island -- 89.1%
South Carolina -- 93.2%
South Dakota -- 91.0%
Tennessee -- 91.9%
Texas -- 90.6%
Utah -- 92.4%
Vermont -- 88.9%
Virginia -- 73.2%
Washington -- 93.3%
West Virginia -- 93.0%
Wisconsin -- 92.0%
Wyoming -- 81.9%
Research has found that lap/shoulder seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate- to-critical injury by 50%, according to the NHTSA. In 2017, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives, according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis.