New Jersey Achieves Record High Seat Belt Usage Following Successful ‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign

New Jersey hit a seat belt usage rate of almost 95% for front-seat occupants after the statewide 2025 "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign wrapped up. The numbers came from an annual observational survey submitted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety.

The post-campaign survey found an overall front-seat occupant usage rate of 94.97%, compared to 90.51% in 2024. Driver usage climbed to 95.11% from 90.86% the year before. Front-seat passenger usage jumped to 94.22% from 89.10%.

The state's rate tops the most recent national seat belt usage rate of 91.2%. The gain reflects one of the strongest post-campaign compliance improvements in recent years.

"Seat belts save lives, and we are committed to ensuring that this message gets through to New Jersey drivers," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a release on Dec. 23, according to Central Jersey. "Nearly 95% of New Jersey drivers and front-seat passengers are buckling up — and that's a marked increase over the previous year."

Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, said each year hundreds of drivers and passengers die in traffic crashes. More than 40% of them were not wearing their seat belts.

"Improving seatbelt usage is an absolute priority, even with our high compliance rate," Rizol said. "So many lives are lost in that group of people who disregard our safety message. Even minor improvements save lives."

Sport utility vehicles showed the highest compliance, with a usage rate of 96.56%. Weighted data showed similar improvements across all categories, with front-seat occupants at 94.33%, up 3.93% over 2024.

Union, Burlington, and Passaic counties posted the largest increases in front-seat passenger usage at 10.23%, 9.45%, and 8.76%. Union County reported the highest usage among front-seat occupants and drivers, with rates of 97.93% and 97.99%. Monmouth County recorded the highest front-seat passenger rate at 98.97%.

Primary roads showed the highest rates for front-seat occupants and drivers. Front-seat passengers showed the highest usage on secondary roads. Local roads saw the lowest rates, though all stayed above 93%.

The survey was conducted after the May 12, 2025 through June 1, 2025, campaign. All data were collected in accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration guidelines under 23 CFR Part 1340.