Massachusetts logged a record-high seat belt usage rate of 85.5% in 2025, which officials said marks a “modest increase” of 1.4% compared to the prior year.
Seat belt use has increased for three consecutive years in Massachusetts, with the usage rate climbing 4.9% between 2023 and 2024, according to a report circulated Monday by the Office of Grants and Research.
The federally mandated study was conducted between June 3 and June 28, with researchers fanning out across 147 locations and observing roughly 24,660 individuals in 23,300 vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved the study results in November, state officials said.
Bristol County had the lowest seat belt usage rate at 78%, and Middlesex County had the highest at 87.7%, according to the report.
“Everyone has a role to play in keeping our roads safe, and wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest steps we can take to protect ourselves and the people we care about,” Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon said. “When drivers and passengers buckle up every time, they help prevent serious injuries and make travel safer for families and communities across the commonwealth.”
Massachusetts also saw a decrease in fatal vehicle crashes, with the state Department of Transportation reporting 342 in 2025. That compares to 364 in 2024.
Researchers found seat belt use among Hispanic occupants “increased significantly” from 70.9% in 2024 to 77% in 2025. Vehicles registered in New Hampshire also saw a “sharp” increase, rising from 74.3% in 2024 to 85.4% in 2025.
Female occupants continue to wear seat belts at a “substantially higher rate” than male occupants. Some 90% of female occupants wore seat belts in 2025, compared to 82% of their male counterparts.
Analyzed across vehicle type, researchers found small commercial vehicles had “one of the most substantial improvements,” with the rate rising from 57% in 2024 to 67% in 2025.