ARKANSAS, USA — The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) statistics show Arkansas is among the states with the lowest rates of seat belt usage between 2015 and 2022.
Behind New Hampshire, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Mississippi, Arkansas ranks fifth for lowest rates of seat belt usage rate of 79.57% over seven years.
Arkansas saw its lowest rates in 2016 with a 75.1% seat belt usage rate. According to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, there were 563 fatal crash victims in 2016. However, it is not clear how many of those victims did not use their seat belts.
The Department of Public Safety's latest statistics show 567 people died in Arkansas fatal crashes in 2023. Again, it is not clear how many of the victims did not use a seat belt.
According to NHTSA, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants in the United States were killed in 2021. Of those occupants, 50% were not buckled.
The NHTSA hopes to combat low seat belt use with campaigns such as Buckle Up America, Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up, and Click It or Ticket. Arkansas law enforcement has previously teamed up with NHTSA in its Click It or Ticket campaign.
Additionally, the Department of Public Safety, Arkansas State Police, Highway Safety Office, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, and the Arkansas Department of Health are participating in the Toward Zero Deaths program to eliminate traffic fatalities. The Arkansas Strategic Highway Safety Plan hopes to achieve this goal by integrating education, enforcement, enrollment, engineering, and emergency services.
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