Seatbelts and child restraints are some of the simplest safety tools we have — and the numbers show just how powerful they are. In New Mexico crashes in 2023, only 0.1% of belted passenger vehicle occupants were killed, compared with more than 12% of those who were unbelted. That means people who buckled up were over 100 times less likely to die in a crash. These aren’t abstract figures. They represent parents who made it home, children who walked away, and families spared unimaginable loss.

One of the most common reasons people skip a seatbelt is thinking, “I’m just going a short distance” or “I’m close to home.” But crash data tells a different story. Most crashes happen close to home, not long drives. Familiar roads can lead to relaxed habits. And that’s often when seatbelts get skipped and the risk goes up.

At the same time, the most severe injuries and fatalities are more likely to occur on rural non-interstate roads, where higher speeds, fewer shoulders, and longer emergency response times increase danger. Unbelted deaths remain disproportionately male, and while statewide seatbelt use is high, gaps persist during nighttime travel and on rural roads, exactly where the margin for error is smallest.

For children, the difference is even more striking. In 2023, children under 13 who were properly restrained were far less likely to be killed or seriously injured than those who were unbelted. Yet more than a third of children who suffered fatal or suspected serious injuries were not properly restrained. Having the right seat matters. And, using it correctly, every trip, every time saves lives.

NMDOT uses crash data to guide BKLUP’s focus on habit-building and social norms. Buckling up isn’t about how far you’re going. It’s about being prepared for the unexpected, every time the vehicle moves. When seatbelt use becomes automatic, and when drivers set the expectation that everyone is buckled up before the car goes anywhere, these numbers move in the right direction.