CINCINNATI — Memorial Day weekend is just about here, and AAA predicts more than 42 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the unofficial start of summer.

Of those traveling, 37.1 million are expected to do so by car, which would be an increase of over 2 million from last year.

But while that number trends upward, another is trending downward.

What You Need To Know

  • AAA predicts more than 42 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the unofficial start of summer

  • The Ohio Department of Public Safety said seat belt compliance dropped to just over 80% in 2022 — that's a 4% decrease from the year before

  • Department of Public Safety shows 527 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes last year where a seat belt was available

  • Light truck drivers wore a seat belt just over 76% of the time, which is down 5% from this time last year

Seat belt use in Ohio is down to its lowest rate in 18 years. The Ohio Department of Public Safety said seat belt compliance dropped to just over 80% in 2022 — that's a 4% decrease from the year before, and far below last year’s national rate of 92%.

They’re slogans we hear all the time: "Click it or Ticket" and "Seat Belts Save Lives." But in recent years, public safety officials have begun to notice a disturbing trend.

“2018, 2019, years were somewhat even inline and then in 2020, we saw numbers of unbelted fatalities start to rise and they’ve been on an upward trend,” said Tr. Derek Malone, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

So much so that data from the department of public safety shows 527 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes last year where a seat belt was available, but wasn’t used. It’s something he said he’s noticed on Ohio’s highways.

“I’ve seen so many crashes myself working on the road and crashes and things,” he said. “Seat belts save lives. It’s a single best thing you can do to prevent serious injury or death while operating a motor vehicle.”

While wearing a seat belt is an issue among all motorists, the survey found that compliance is lowest with truck drivers. Light truck drivers wore on just over 76% of the time which is down 5% from this time last year. And it’s also down 5 percent for heavy truck drivers. Despite the low compliance rate, Ohio Trucking Association President Tom Balzer said his group continues to make a big push for drivers to buckle up.

“We’ve done a number of things as an industry to make sure the drivers are wearing their seat belts whether with signage reminders as they’re leaving the yards and that side of it,” said Balzer. “As well as the truck stops doing some signage as well to make sure to remind them to fasten their seat belts before they get back on the road.”

And it’s an issue OSHP is cracking down on. While wearing a seat belt is a secondary violation — meaning that can’t be the reason you’re pulled over — you will pay the price if you’re caught doing something else illegal and don’t have your seat belt on. 

“It’s a $30 fine for the driver and a $20 fine is the passenger is sided for not having a seat belt on,” he said. “Now that is in addition to every court has their own set court fees usually.”

With Memorial Day right around the corner, OSHP expects high traffic on the highways. And that’s why they’re urging you to make sure you click it before you get a ticket.

“We’ll be out in full force watching for any violations with seat belts obviously being a very high priority,” he said.

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