Vermont Business Magazine During the Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT), and law enforcement agencies across the state and nation remind drivers to wear their seat belts. Whether driving cross-country or just across town to celebrate the holiday, everyone in a vehicle should Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. In addition to being required by law, buckling up, combined with an airbag, is the best defense against injury or death in a crash.
From November 26-30, Vermont law enforcement will be supporting the national Buckle Up occupant protection high-visibility enforcement campaign with additional enforcement efforts. The AOT State Highway Safety Office held a press conference today at Heritage Toyota in South Burlington with representatives of law enforcement and education partners to support this critical message. The event also included a child passenger safety “Car Seat Fitting Station,” which was open and free to the public.
During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2023, there were 309 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation, and 44% (135) were unrestrained. Not wearing a seat belt is highly dangerous any time of day during the holiday weekend: 47% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 38% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across America and may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.
In Vermont, the seat belt use rate is declining, with a new rate of 87.5%, down from 88.4% in 2024. That rate is reflected in fatalities on our roads. In the last 10 years in Vermont (2015 to 2024), there were 256 fatalities involving unbuckled occupants. In that same period, 39.7% of people who died in Vermont crashes were unbuckled. From 2020 to 2024, there were 493 serious injuries and 136 fatalities involving unbuckled occupants. Males in Vermont account for 19.1% more unbelted fatalities and serious injuries than females from 2015 to 2024. In that same period, Vermonters under the age of 30 accounted for 36% of all unbelted fatalities and serious injuries, and 37 children were killed or seriously injured from improper restraint usage.
“The Thanksgiving holiday is the start of a special time of year for so many people,” said DMV Commissioner Andrew Collier. “No matter how long or short your drive, it’s critical that drivers and passengers buckle up, every trip, every time. We want everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled before you even turn on the car — and that includes children being in the correct car seats.”
Riding without a seat belt is illegal and dangerous. Drivers should ensure that they and all passengers are buckled before the vehicle ever leaves its parking spot. Buckling the seat belt is the single most effective measure to stay safe in the event of a crash.
“Please be safe during this Thanksgiving holiday by making sure you and everyone else in your vehicle wears their seat belt,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. “We want everyone to enjoy their time with their friends and family and get home safely.”
For more information on seat belt safety visit www.nhtsa.gov/SeatBelts or Drive Well Vermont.
11.24.2025. Vermont Agency of Transportation vtrans.vermont.gov