More Nebraskans are buckling up, and state highway safety officials say that’s encouraging news for everyone on the road. Nebraska recorded one of the nation’s largest improvements in seat belt use, increasing from 77.3 percent in 2023 to 80.2 percent in 2024, placing the state among the top five nationwide for year-over-year gains.
“It’s definitely encouraging to see our seat belt rate go up,” says Ryley Eggert, administrator of the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office. The state has not yet released seat belt usage data for 2025. Eggert said those numbers are expected to become available in late summer or early fall.
While the reason behind the increase isn’t clear, Eggert said the trend is a positive sign for roadway safety. Seat belts remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce injuries and save lives in a crash. “Statistics show that you’re 45% more likely to survive a crash by wearing a seat belt,” Eggert tells KLIN News.
With summer travel in full swing, NDOT is reminding drivers and passengers to make safety a habit every time they get behind the wheel. “Anytime you get in the car, buckle up, drive the posted speed limit and always put your phone down,” Eggert says. “Those three decisions are the safest things you can do when driving.”
Eggert says they promote those messages throughout the year by attending county fairs, the Nebraska State Fair and a Husker football game each season, where staff members talk with the public about seat belt use, distracted driving and planning for a sober ride home.