In 2018, 215 passenger vehicle deaths in Colorado involved unbuckled drivers and passengers. An estimated 70 of those lives could have been saved had the individual been wearing a seat belt. Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to prevent severe injury or death in a motor vehicle crash, yet Colorado, with a rate of only 88 percent, ranks behind the national average of 90 percent.
This spring, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) went on a road trip to capture stories from Coloradans in Weld, Adams and El Paso counties, the counties with the highest number of unbuckled fatalities in 2017, about why they buckle. CDOT hopes that stories from fellow Coloradans will encourage those who don't wear seat belts to think of a reason to buckle up and ultimately change their behavior. The videos below follow their journey and tell the reasons residents use seat belts.
What's your reason for buckling up? CDOT wants to know! Visit SeatBeltsColorado.com to share your reason.