05/18/2026
Annual Buckle Up Campaign Reminds Drivers:
Buckle Up May 18-31 and Every Day
Barre, VT — The Vermont Agency of Transportation’s State Highway Safety Office joins the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement and Safety Division, and law enforcement agencies across the state and nation to urge drivers to “Buckle Up” today and every day as part of a seat belt campaign from May 18-31.
Law enforcement officers and first responders from Vermont and New York, with support from the Vermont and New York State Highway Safety Offices, held a press conference today at the foot of the Champlain Bridge at the historic fort located in Crown Point, NY to raise awareness about the Buckle Up seat belt campaign, a high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday.
Speakers reminded drivers of the importance of wearing seat belts. In addition, high-school students participated in a friendly competition called “Battle of the Belts,” a fun way to demonstrate how quick and easy it is to buckle your seat belt.
This year marks Vermont and New York’s 25th year participating in the national seat belt enforcement campaign. This campaign began in North Carolina in 1993. Vermont and New York joined the movement in 2002, and since 2004 all U.S. states and territories have participated in the campaign each year.
“Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Major Steve Coote, Field Force Division Commander, VSP. “During the seat belt safety campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure that the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Not buckling up could mean a ticket—or worse: risking a life.”
The Vermont seat belt use rate in 2025 was 87.5%, which is below the national average, and Vermonters must do better. In the last 10 years (2016 to 2025), there were 263 fatalities in Vermont involving unbuckled occupants. In that same period, 40.52% of people who died in Vermont crashes were unbuckled. From 2021 to 2025, there were 508 serious injuries and 134 fatalities involving unbuckled occupants. Males in Vermont account for 19.7% more unbelted fatalities and serious injuries than females from 2016 to 2025. In that same period, Vermonters under the age of 30 accounted for 35.5% of all unbelted fatalities and serious injuries, and 38 children were killed or seriously injured from improper restraint usage.
Buckle Up the Right Way:
• Place the shoulder belt across the middle of the chest and away from the neck.
• Lay the lap belt across the hips and not the stomach.
• NEVER place the seat belt behind the back or under arms.
“We are asking friends and family to remind each other to buckle up in the front and back seats and to consider changing their habits if they don’t,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “Seat belts save lives, and everyone – front seat and back, child and adult – needs to remember to buckle up.”
For more information about the national seat belt enforcement mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt or Drive Well Vermont.
