CDOT highlights rising seat belt use in Pueblo County

In September, local health and safety leaders in Pueblo joined CDOT to unveil a new art installation highlighting increased seat belt use in Pueblo County. Seat belt usage rates among Pueblo County vehicle occupants climbed to 79% in 2024, a full 12 percentage point gain from just two years ago, when the rate was 67%, the lowest in the state.

The findings are part of a new 2024 Colorado Statewide Seat Belt Study released in September. The study used observations of drivers and passengers in more than 4,700 vehicles at 48 locations throughout Pueblo County to determine how often drivers and passengers are buckling up. The increase continues a positive safety trend for Pueblo County. The county’s seat belt usage rate in 2023 was 74%.

“It’s great to see the Pueblo community continuing to make gains in seat belt use,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Highway Safety Office at CDOT. “Seat belts remain the most important safety feature for vehicle occupants and significantly reduce the chances of serious and fatal injuries in crashes.”

Last year, six people killed in Pueblo County crashes were not buckled. So far in 2024, six unbuckled people have died in crashes.

While the positive trend in Pueblo County is encouraging, there is still room for improvement. Statewide, 88% of vehicle occupants buckle up, according to the 2024 study. Only Pueblo and Jefferson counties had usage rates below 80%. Leaders from the Pueblo Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and St. Mary-Corwin Hospital stressed the message of keeping the momentum going and making even bigger gains in seat belt use.

"It's really encouraging to see more and more drivers and passengers buckled up on our roads,” said Sergeant Michael Sincerbox of the Pueblo Police Department Traffic Division. “Whether it's just a few blocks or heading across town, buckling up every time we get into a vehicle is one of the best ways of ensuring our own safety and the safety of our family and friends."

“While you can’t always control the speed or attention level of other drivers, you and your passengers can take control of your safety — just boss up and buckle up,” said Major Brian Lyons, Region 2 District Commander of the Colorado State Patrol. “Every ride, no matter how short or long, should start with a seat belt click. Make it a non-negotiable part of getting into the vehicle.”

As both an acknowledgment of Pueblo County’s progress in seat belt usage and a reminder to keep buckling up, CDOT unveiled an installation art piece that will be displayed along the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo. The large display reminds drivers and passengers that buckling up every time they get in a vehicle not only protects their life, it preserves their ability to do all of the things that make life enjoyable.

"The neighbors we care for in our emergency department who were buckled up during a crash can often be fully recovered in a matter of days or weeks,” said G. Wagner, Emergency Department Manager at CommonSpirit St. Mary-Corwin Hospital. “That's far less often the case when someone isn't wearing a seat belt."

During the event, officials unveiled a large canvas mural, and two speakers painted the final sections, completing the artwork. The mural was later installed on the Riverwalk to celebrate Pueblo County’s progress in seat belt usage and serve as a reminder to keep buckling up. The colorful, upbeat mural reads, “Do what you love. And wear a seatbelt, even on short trips, so you can keep doing it.”

A balloon arch featuring 100 printed balloons — 79 red and 21 white — helped bring Pueblo’s seat belt usage statistics to life for the event. The red balloons represented the percentage of Puebloans who buckle up and the white ones represented the work that still needs to be done. Words on the balloons read, “More of you are wearing seatbelts. Way to go, Pueblo! Buckle up. Every trip. Every time.”

Importantly, balloons also served as a celebratory element regarding Pueblo’s increase in seat belt usage. Once the event was over, printed balloons were distributed to people on the Riverwalk to spread the good news — and spread joy.