Lincoln police will increase seat belt enforcement across the city Nov. 5-30 as part of the national “Make It Click” campaign. Officers will focus on evenings, weekends and the Thanksgiving holiday, when seat belt use may be lower, according to the department.
Police say the effort aims to increase seat belt use and prevent traffic deaths and injuries. Grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office supports the project.
According to the 2025 Nebraska Seat Belt Use Survey cited by LPD, 81.7% of observed drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts. While that represents an improvement over previous years, Nebraska remained below the national rate of 91.3%.
Nebraska recorded 236 traffic fatalities in 2025, including 70 people who were not wearing seat belts, according to figures provided by police. The department said national safety data shows seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 45% for front-seat passenger vehicle occupants and up to 60% for light-truck occupants.