New Jersey’s seat belt usage rate climbed to nearly 95% following the state’s 2025 “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign, according to data released Tuesday by Attorney General Matt Platkin and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (HTS).
The state’s annual observational survey found that 94.97% of front-seat occupants were wearing seat belts after the campaign, a significant increase from 90.51% in 2024. The post-campaign figure places New Jersey well above the most recently reported national seat belt usage rate of 91.2%.
Attorney General Platkin said the increase reflects the combined impact of enforcement, public education, and interagency cooperation. He noted that nearly 95% of drivers and front-seat passengers are now buckling up, representing a marked improvement over the previous year.
HTS Director Michael J. Rizol Jr. said that increasing seat belt use remains a priority despite the state’s already high compliance rate. He pointed to data showing that more than 40% of people killed in traffic crashes each year were not wearing seat belts, emphasizing that even modest gains can save lives.
The survey, submitted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety in accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) criteria, showed improvements across multiple categories. Driver seat belt usage rose to 95.11% from 90.86% in 2024, while front-seat passenger usage increased to 94.22% from 89.10%. Sport utility vehicles again recorded the highest compliance rate at 96.56%.
Weighted data, which apply statistical adjustments to ensure results are representative statewide, showed similar gains. The weighted front-seat occupant usage rate was 94.33%, up 3.93 percentage points from the prior year. Weighted driver usage increased to 94.41%, while weighted front-seat passenger usage rose to 93.71%.
County-level data indicated notable regional improvements. Union, Burlington, and Passaic counties recorded the largest increases in front-seat passenger usage. Union County posted the highest overall usage rates, with 97.93% for front-seat occupants and 97.99% for drivers. Monmouth County reported the highest front-seat passenger usage at 98.97%, a significant increase from 2024.
Usage rates also varied by road type. The highest compliance among drivers and front-seat occupants was observed on primary roads, while front-seat passengers showed the highest usage on secondary roads. Local roads recorded the lowest rates, though all exceeded 93%.
The survey followed the May 12 through June 1 “Click It or Ticket” campaign. State officials said New Jersey’s federally approved survey design ensures representative sampling across counties and road types, with site selections updated at least every five years as required.