Colorado joins neighboring states to increase seat belt use

Be a good neighbor and buckle up. Local transportation and law enforcement agencies from Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming are coming together for the “State2State. Buckle up.” seat belt campaign. With an increase in unbuckled crashes involving the neighboring states, the campaign aims to increase seat belt usage, targeting motorists traveling between states. 

Colorado will alert travelers on social media and on digital highway signs near the state border about the importance of buckling up. Between 2017 and 2020 there were 86 deaths on Colorado highways involving people who were unbuckled and from another state.

Colorado’s current seat belt use rate is 86.3%, which is below the national average of 90%. To help make Colorado roads a safer place, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol encourage all drivers and passengers to do their part and buckle up no matter what state they call home.

“As the summer travel season gets rolling, we will see more travelers from neighboring states coming to Colorado. Whether a visitor or a resident, we want every occupant of a vehicle to be buckled up. It doesn't matter how long or short the trip,” said Chief Matthew Packard, Colorado State Patrol. “We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented.”