ODOT, OTA urge Oklahomans to buckle up every trip, every seat, every time with second year of statewide seat belt campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release # 26-039
ODOT, OTA urge Oklahomans to buckle up every trip, every seat, every time with second year of statewide seat belt campaign
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are back for year two of the statewide “Never Skip the Click” campaign, urging Oklahomans to make one simple, life-saving choice every time they get in a vehicle: buckle up.
This year, ODOT and OTA are partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Service Oklahoma to share campaign materials and promote seat belt conversations throughout November and show how a two-second decision can change the outcome of a crash.
“Never Skip the Click” is built around a simple idea: seat belt use should be as automatic as adjusting a mirror or starting your car. The campaign will run throughout November, with public events, community outreach, digital storytelling and community partnerships.
November marks Oklahoma’s observance of Seat Belt Month and coincides with National Seat Belt Day on Nov. 14. Throughout the month, “Never Skip the Click” will use tactics to reach Oklahomans where they live, work and travel. Campaign messaging will focus particularly on rural drivers, pickup occupants, young adults and men, while also urging passengers and family members to speak up when someone is not buckled.
“Last year, we asked Oklahomans to turn one action into a lifesaving habit and while that campaign was a major success, we still have work to do,” said ODOT Interim Executive Director T.J. Dill. “Whether you are driving across town or around the block, clicking your seat belt should be as automatic as starting your vehicle. A crash only takes seconds, and so does buckling up.”
The latest available statewide observational seat belt study estimated that around 83% of Oklahomans are buckling up on local and rural roads. Based on 2024 rates, Oklahoma ranked 39th nationally in lack of seat belt use, and most recent statewide observations also show that fewer than 79% of Oklahoma's pickup drivers are seat belt compliant.
“At the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating consequences of crashes when someone is not wearing a seat belt. The injuries, the lives lost and the impact on families are reminders of just how important this simple decision can be,” said Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Colonel Joe Williams. “Wearing a seat belt is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones on the road. No matter how far you’re traveling or how familiar the route may be, make safety a priority and buckle up. Every trip, every time - because getting home safely is what matters most.”
Six counties recorded seat belt usage rates below 80% in the 2025 study, up from two counties the previous year:
- Comanche County at 72%,
- Lincoln County at 73.3%,
- Major County at 76.3%,
- Canadian County at 77.7%,
- Logan County at 79.5% and
- Okmulgee County at 79.9%.
- Rogers and Cleveland counties trend higher for usage rates at 90%.
“No matter how safe the vehicle or how experienced the driver, no one can predict when a crash will happen. That one simple action protects you and everyone who is counting on you to make it home,” said OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle. “We want buckling up to become something people do without a second thought, and that kind of change happens when families, friends and co-workers work together.”
Nationally, nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2024 were unrestrained, based on cases where restraint use was known. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45% in passenger cars and by 60% for occupants of SUVs, pickups and vans.
Buckling up every time you get behind the wheel is a simple but potentially life-saving decision that can help protect you and your passengers in the event of a crash. Oklahoma Highway Safety Office Director Paul Harris emphasized the critical role seat belts play in protecting drivers on the road. “Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers. Your seat belt is what keeps you safe and secure inside your vehicle in the event of a crash. It's one of the safest choices you can make,” Harris said.
No matter where you are going, whether you’re driving a pickup or passenger car, and whether you’re sitting in the front or back seat, buckle up. Every Trip. Every Seat. Every Time.
Never Skip the Click.
