CDOT announces community coalition to boost Pueblo seat belt use

CDOT announces community coalition to boost Pueblo seat belt use Sept. 29, 2025 - Southeastern Colorado - More than one in four people are not buckled up https://www.codot.gov/news/2025/september/community-coalition-boost-pueblo-seat-belt-use https://www.codot.gov/@@site-logo/siteLogo.png

News Release

Sept. 29, 2025 - Southeastern Colorado - More than one in four people are not buckled up

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Pueblo, Colo. - Preliminary results from the 2025 Colorado Seat Belt Study show Pueblo County has the lowest seat belt usage rate in the state. Compared to state and national averages, the study found a seat belt usage rate of just 71.6% in Pueblo County, well below the Colorado average of 90.7% and the national average of 91.2%.

To respond to this ongoing challenge, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced the formation of an on-going, community-focused effort to encourage drivers and passengers in Pueblo County to buckle up. In the coming months, this group, consisting of health, safety, education, business and community representatives, will chart a strategy for increasing seat belt use.

"There are no excuses when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones in a vehicle," said Sam Cole, Traffic Safety Communications Manager at CDOT. "With Pueblo's seat belt rate still 19 points below the state average, this campaign will work locally to make seat belt use a community value-every trip, every time."

To announce the effort, CDOT gathered with community leaders at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo on Monday, to speak to the importance of engaging a broad range of partners throughout Pueblo County.

To bring visibility to the issue, three large displays made from actual seat belts will be featured at Pueblo locations including the Riverwalk, Pueblo Zoo, local schools, and special events throughout Pueblo. The displays feature the reminder that there are "No Excuses" to not buckle up, set against common reasons given for not wearing seat belts. Bold signage reminds viewers of the fact that most crashes occur in those exact situations-on streets with lower speed limits, and close to home.

Multi-colored graphic of a large display on a chain link fence with a silhouette of a man for scale. The display consists of seat belts arranged vertically with colorful messages written on them and the phrase "No Excuses" in large text across the bottom.

Rendering of "No Excuses" displays, made from seat belts, that will be positioned at various Pueblo locations.

"This comes down to all of us, as a community, setting the right example and looking out for our families and each other," said Chris Noeller, Pueblo Chief of Police and Deputy Mayor. "This is a health and safety issue that each and every one of us in this community can solve immediately."

"The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment is extremely grateful to be a part of this necessary partnership in our community, as we work to promote and protect the health of our friends, neighbors, and young people every day," said Randy Evetts, Public Health Director at the Pueblo Department of Public Health & Environment. "Wearing a seatbelt is a critical step in protecting your own health and safety and can help prevent serious injuries and avoidable tragedies."

"We appreciate this partnership and look forward to bringing even more residents and organizations into this effort," said Duane Nava, President and CEO of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. "So much of our work at the chamber is about our reputation as a community. Buckling up is a small thing, but it's a way to demonstrate that in Pueblo, we do the right thing for ourselves, our families and our friends."

"We are committed to the safety and well-being of our community," said Noah Commerford, President and CEO of the Pueblo Latino Chamber of Commerce. "Wearing a seatbelt is a simple action that saves lives, and we encourage everyone to make it a daily habit. Protecting our people ensures our loved ones, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow Puebloans can head to and from work or school safely as well as efficiently."

"As a trauma nurse, I have seen firsthand how seat belts save lives," said Brittney Surniak, RN and manager of trauma services at UCHealth Parkview. "Wearing a seat belt not only prevents fatalities but also greatly reduces the severity of injuries when crashes occur. Something as simple as buckling up can mean the difference between walking away from a crash or facing long-term recovery."

"This issue is personal for me. I lost a friend who was not buckled up during a terrible crash in downtown Pueblo," said Kambria Humphreys, Youth Chairperson of Southern Colorado Youth Go. "As a young person advocating for a safer community, we have to send the message: It's our personal responsibility to wear a seat belt every time we're in a vehicle."

A CDOT graph of the Pueblo County seat belt use rate for the past five years. 2021: 66.20%, 2022: 67.60%, 2023: 74.46%, 2024: 79.23%, 2025: 71.58%

Of the 13 passenger vehicle fatalities in Pueblo County so far in 2025, eight were not wearing seat belts. Last year, of the 13 passenger vehicle fatalities in Pueblo County, nine (69%) were not wearing seat belts.

Data from the Pueblo Department of Public Health & Environment shows traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for children under 18 in Pueblo County 2020-present. Collectively, 24.28% of all youth deaths during that time were the result of motor vehicle crashes. Additionally, 66% of teen (12-17 years) motor vehicle deaths in that same time frame were unrestrained.

Research shows that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of injury or death in a crash by nearly half, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.