Occupant Protection: Building a Culture of Buckling Up Across Northeast Florida
For more than three decades, the FDOT District Two Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP) has worked alongside local agencies, schools, businesses, and healthcare partners to make seat belt use a lifelong habit across Northeast Florida. Our 2026 Occupant Protection Report highlights the many ways this collaborative effort is helping save lives through education, outreach, and community partnerships.
Occupant protection remains one of the most effective ways to reduce serious injuries and fatalities in crashes. While seat belt use is required by law, our goal goes beyond compliance. We strive to create a traffic safety culture where buckling up is second nature for every trip, every passenger, every time.
A Community Effort That Spans 18 Counties
The strength of District Two’s occupant protection program comes from collaboration. Community Traffic Safety Teams representing all 18 counties work year-round to identify local traffic safety concerns, share resources, and coordinate outreach efforts. Together with law enforcement, schools, hospitals, businesses, fire rescue agencies, and community organizations, they help spread life-saving messages where people live, work, learn, and travel.
Reaching Drivers of Every Age
The report showcases a wide variety of educational initiatives designed to reach every stage of life:
- Child Passenger Safety education through the statewide W.H.A.L.E. Check program.
- Traffic Safety for Kids activity books, bookmarks, and classroom resources.
- Teen driver education, including short safety videos and the growing Battle of the Belts competition.
- Rural occupant protection campaigns focused on pickup truck occupants and high-risk roadways.
- Year-round social media campaigns, downloadable graphics, blogs, and community events promoting seat belt use
Resources That Reach the Community
Free educational materials, including banners, posters, tip cards, activity books, bookmarks, digital graphics, and videos, are distributed through schools, libraries, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, tax collector offices, chambers of commerce, businesses, churches, and community events throughout Northeast Florida. These repeated reminders help reinforce one consistent message: Safety belts save lives.
Education Supported by Data
District Two’s outreach is guided by crash trends and community needs. The report highlights ongoing collaboration with more than 1,015 Traffic Safety Team members and 1,848 partner agencies, supported through 61 virtual meetings each year. The program also shares occupant protection crash data, educational resources, and best practices to help local communities focus their safety efforts where they can make the greatest impact.
Looking Ahead
Achieving Florida’s Target Zero vision requires continued partnership and public participation. Every banner displayed, every educational material distributed, every child properly restrained, and every driver who chooses to buckle up brings us one step closer to reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Together, we are building a culture of buckling up!
We invite you to explore the complete Occupant Protection Report. Learn more about the innovative programs, community partnerships, and educational initiatives helping make Northeast Florida’s roads safer for everyone.
One click does the trick. Remember, always buckle up. For yourself, your family, and for life.