Seat Belt Use in Colorado Improving

Colorado’s seat belt use has increased slowly year over year, but it still lags behind the national average. The NHTSA reported in 2024 that the national seat belt use average was 91.2%, compared to 88.19% in Colorado. Wearing seat belts can help save lives and reduce the risk of severe injuries in car crashes. If you are involved in a crash, our Colorado car accident lawyers can help you secure the compensation you deserve.

How Seat Belt Use Helps Reduce Injuries In Car Accidents

Wearing your seat belt, in the front seat, can help reduce the risk of death by about 45% and serious injury by 50% according to the CDC.

Seat belts help reduce injuries by:

Preventing ejection from the vehicle.
Preventing the person from moving around inside the vehicle and crashing into the seat, dashboard, or steering wheel.
Spreading the force of impact over the body instead of on one location.
Helping keep people in place so airbags and other safety features can work properly.
Minimizing the forces that cause injuries.

2025 Seat Belt Usage Survey

Along with continued educational campaigns and Click It or Ticket enforcement periods, the Colorado Department of Transportation has reported seat belt use increased from 88.19% in 2024 to 90.69% in 2025. This is the first time state-wide seat belt use has exceeded 90% since mandatory seat belt laws were introduced in 2002.

Types Of Drivers Surveyed

The 2025 survey driver demographics included drivers of all ages, in a range of vehicles, such as:

Passenger vehicles
Pickup trucks
Vans
Minivans
SUVs

Among those surveyed, SUV drivers (93.4%) and van drivers (92.9%) wore their seat belts the most often. Pickup truck drivers (85.7%) wore their seat belts less often.

Counties Surveyed

The 2025 survey included 26 counties statewide, which accounted for 85% of the traffic deaths in the state, and included:

Adams: 92.13%
Arapahoe: 93.58%
Boulder: 92.71%
Chaffee: 93.03%
Costilla: 83.64%
Delta: 86.87%
Denver: 92.73%
Douglas: 95.74%
Eagle: 93.95%
El Paso: 91.76%
Fremont: 90.55%
Garfield: 94.3%
Grand: 97.12%
Jefferson: 75.3%
La Plata: 86.77%
Larimer: 88.35%
Las Animas: 80.9%
Logan: 85.91%
Mesa: 91.64%
Montezuma: 86.5%
Montrose: 86.77%
Morgan: 79.03%
Otero: 81.21%
Park: 94.05%
Pueblo: 71.58%
Weld: 79.84%

All counties saw an increase in seat belt usage in 2025, except for Pueblo County, which reported a 7.7% decrease.

How Click It Or Ticket Promotes Seat Belt Use

The Click It or Ticket program in Colorado helps promote seat belt use through:

Increasing law enforcement patrols.
Issuing citations for violations.
Public service announcements.
Educating drivers on the consequences of not wearing seat belts.
Educating drivers on the correct use of seat belts and child restraint systems.

Additionally, in an effort to increase seat belt usage, Colorado updated its seat belt laws, effective January 1, 2025, to require anyone up to the age of 18 who is in the back seat to wear a seat belt or be in a child restraint system. The law already requires anyone in the front seat to wear seat belts.

Common Car Accident Injuries With Seat Belt Use

Some of the more common injuries after a crash while wearing your seat belt include:

Abrasions
Contusions
Lacerations
Bone fractures
Shoulder injuries
Whiplash
Spinal cord fractures
Concussions

Common Car Accident Injuries Without Seat Belt Use

In addition to the common car accident injuries with seat belt use, the failure to use a seat belt could result in these injuries after a car crash:

Broken bones
Spinal cord injuries
Paralysis
Herniated discs
Punctured lungs
Internal organ damage
Facial injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Loss of limbs
Death

Get Free Legal Advice Before Filing Your Car Accident Injury Claim

When another driver injures you in a car crash in Colorado, you have the legal right to seek compensation from them for your injuries and losses. At Bachus & Schanker, we offer a free case evaluation and consultation, where you can learn about your legal rights and options for filing your injury claim.
We have multiple office locations in Colorado and are the only law firm in the state to have a Victim’s Advocate Team. Before speaking to the insurance company, consult with one of our car accident attorneys to find out how we can help you secure maximum compensation.