Occupant protection

Seatbelts save lives. Driver and passengers. Front seat and back seat. In any type of car or truck on the road. Wearing your seatbelt is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash.

The primary goal of occupant protection programs is to increase the observed statewide seat belt use rate and to decrease unrestrained occupant injuries and fatalities. Although Connecticut has some of the highest seat belt use rates in the country, there is still room to improve. HSO continues to focus efforts on increased seat belt usage and high visibility seat belt enforcement.

Occupant protection includes young children, too. HSO conducts extensive outreach and education to ensure all children use restraints (infant and child car seats) that are appropriate for the child's age and weight. Studies continue to show that the misuse of child restraints is common, and so HSO sponsors and conducts Fitting Stations to provide parents with "hands on" assistance.

Seatbelt use rate in Connecticut totals:

Laws and penalties

In Connecticut, drivers and all passengers must wear a seatbelt, even in the back seat. The fine for not wearing your seatbelt is currently $92.

Drive to save lives – what we’re doing

Connecticut has worked to bring awareness of the increase in unrestrained vehicle occupant fatalities through media and enforcement campaigns and have participated in the Click It or Ticket “Border to Border” campaign with Massachusetts to raise awareness on this issue.

• HSP works to strengthen seat belt legislation and recently worked with CT lawmakers to pass a law making it mandatory to wear a seatbelt in the backseat as well as the front.
• High-visibility seat belt enforcement usually consists of short, intense periods of enforcement using checkpoints and saturation patrols. To be most effective, law enforcement activity needs to be well publicized through paid and earned media. This increases the perception among the driving population that unbelted drivers will be stopped and cited.
• Media efforts include TV, radio, print, outdoor, bus panels, gas stations, malls, movie theaters, social media and digital advertising.
• Public outreach at sporting events and concert venues as well as health and safety fairs.

Drive to save lives – what you can do