RALEIGH – North Carolinians are buckling up more than ever, a new survey shows.
According to the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s recent survey, 92.8% of drivers and front-seat passengers are wearing seat belts this year. This usage has increased every year since 2020, and it’s the highest rate ever in state history.
“This milestone shows that North Carolina is working to develop a culture of safety on our roads,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “People who buckle up protect themselves and others, and I’m proud more North Carolinians are making the safe choice.”
The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program conducts a survey each year of random roadway sites in 15 North Carolina counties to determine the number of seat belt users on North Carolina roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires each state to conduct the annual surveys.
The 2024 survey found that 93.1% of drivers and 91.8% of front seat passengers wear their seat belt. This year’s survey also noted that young drivers had the highest rate of seat belt use at 94.4%.
Failure to wear a seat belt continues to be a significant risk factor in vehicle crashes. In recent years, more than 40% of vehicle occupants killed in car crashes have been unbuckled.
The observational period for the annual survey begins in June following the GHSP’s annual “Memorial Day Click It or Ticket” campaign, an initiative that has become a national model since it was introduced in the Tar Heel State in 1993.
“North Carolina has been a longtime leader in promoting traffic safety,” said, Mark Ezzell, director of GHSP. “Over the past seven years, we have partnered with community groups, public health organizations, law enforcement agencies and others to spread the message that most of us in North Carolina buckle up in every seat, every time we get into a vehicle.”
