The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is teaming up with law enforcement agencies statewide for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) “Click It. Don’t Risk It.” campaign, running May 19 through June 1. The high-visibility enforcement effort aims to boost seat belt usage heading into the busy Memorial Day travel period. Despite widespread belief that most Iowans buckle up, the data tell a different story. In 2024, 44 percent of Iowa’s traffic fatalities involved unbuckled occupants, with 108 lives lost as a result. A GTSB survey of over 1,450 Iowans found 88 percent always wear a seat belt in the front seat, but only 67 percent do so in the back. Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes says, “No matter the type of vehicle you’re traveling in, where you’re seated, or what type of road you’re driving on, the best way to protect yourself in a crash is to buckle up. Unfortunately, many families are suffering because their loved ones did not follow this simple step. If this enforcement effort alerts people to the dangers of not buckling up, we’ll consider the mission a success.” GTSB encourages Iowans to talk with loved ones about the importance of seat belts and to model safe habits every trip, especially before setting out for any Memorial Day plans. As of this (Monday) morning, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has recorded 83 traffic fatalities in Iowa, 12.6 percent below the five-year average but still nearly five percent over the state’s low in the last five years.
Law Enforcement Launches Seat Belt Enforcement Effort Ahead Of Memorial Day Holiday
