Nebraska’s seat belt usage ranks 49th nationally, prompting calls for legislative action.

Nebraska continues to face significant challenges in seat-belt safety, with the state ranking 49th nationwide in seat-belt usage, according to the Nebraska Highway Safety Office. In 2024, 251 people died on Nebraska roadways—a nearly 10% increase from the previous year—and 136 of the 194 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. Former Highway Safety Office Administrator Bill Kovarik emphasized that seat-belt use in Nebraska has steadily declined since 2017, falling from 85.9% to just 80.2% in 2024. Despite overwhelming evidence that primary seat-belt laws increase usage and save lives, Nebraska remains one of only a handful of states where failure to wear a seat belt is a secondary offense, meaning drivers can only be cited if another traffic violation occurs. While most Nebraskans surveyed support stricter seat-belt laws, legislative proposals to make non-use a primary offense have failed to gain traction, with the last such bill dying in committee in 2019. Lawmakers are currently considering increased penalties for texting while driving, but there has been little movement on seat-belt reform. Data shows teens are the least likely to buckle up, and educational efforts, including school presentations and the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, aim to reverse that trend. Omaha police worked 59 fatal crashes in 2024, and of the 30 vehicle occupant deaths, 18 were unbelted. Safety officials warn that modeling seat-belt use for children is essential, and that enforcement alone is not enough—public cooperation is key. The national seat-belt usage rate in 2023 stood at 91.9%, while Nebraska’s rates lag behind, ahead of only New Hampshire.