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Safety Belt Use in Northeast Florida

Safety Belt Use in Northeast Florida

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Florida’s statewide safety belt use rate for 2025 is 90.8 percent, an improvement from the 2024 result of 90.0 percent. This annual statewide survey is primarily designed to provide a single safety belt usage estimate for the entire State of Florida, not official county rates. However, these rates are still helpful as they serve as reference points for changes over time.

Three counties are surveyed in our 18-county FDOT District Two. Out of the 31,545 statewide total of Observed Front-Seat Occupants, including drivers and passengers, there were 4,669 observed in Alachua (1,364), Duval (1,726), and St. Johns (1,579). This accounts for 14.8% of the total number observed out of the 15 counties surveyed throughout the state.

2025 Survey Results for Safety Belt Use in Northeast Florida

  • Alachua County 91.4% (up from 90.6% in 2024)
  • Duval County 87.7 (up from 86.5% in 2024)
  • St Johns County 87.9% (up slightly from 87.5% in 2024)

Notably, the usage rates are based on weighted data from two sets of sample sites: those used in 2017-2021 and those used in recent surveys. This could influence the shift in survey numbers, and decreases could be due to the different areas where new sites are located. For example, Alachua’s usage rate was 95%, and St. Johns was 92.1% in 2021.

Despite the year-to-year fluctuation, safety belt usage generally shows an upward trend. However, the recent decline indicates that occupant protection programs should seek to increase safety belt use among the groups with disproportionately low use identified in this survey.

Occupant Protection Messages in Response to Low Usage Rates

The low safety belt usage groups identified include pickup truck occupants, male passengers, occupants between the ages of 16-34, and black occupants.

Be Savvy, Buckle Up for ages 16-34
Occupants Ages 16-34: Be Savvy… Buckle Up
Buckle up in your truck
Occupants in Pickups: Buckle Up in Your Truck
be man enough to buckle up
Male Occupants: Be Man Enough to Buckle Up
buckle up, your life matters
Black Occupants: Buckle Up… Your Life Matters

Safety Belt Law History

In 1986, Florida implemented its first adult safety belt law. Safety belt use before the law was at 22% statewide. From 1999 to 2004, Florida’s use rate increased from 59% to just over 76% due to FDOT’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign and other efforts across the state. In 2009, Florida passed a primary enforcement safety belt bill, and safety belt use has increased since the law’s passage. Working together, we can continue to increase safety belt use and reduce fatalities and injuries on our roadways.

“Always Buckle Up … for Your Family. For Yourself. For LIFE.” 
No Regrets When You BUCKLE UP!

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