(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Pueblo County has the lowest seat belt usage rate in the state, according to preliminary results of a 2025 study released by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
On Monday, Sept. 29, CDOT and other community leaders gathered at the Arkansas Riverwalk in Pueblo to announce the formation of an ongoing, community-focused effort to encourage drivers and passengers in Pueblo County to buckle up. According to the Colorado Seat Belt Study, people in Pueblo County use seat belts at a rate of 71.6%, well below the state average of 90.7% and the national average of 91.2%.
Courtesy: Colorado Department of Transportation
“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.”
The coalition, consisting of health, safety, education, business, and community representatives, will chart a strategy for increasing seat belt use over the next several months. Three large displays have been created from actual seatbelts with the reminder “No Excuses,” to bring visibility to the issue, and will be featured at the Riverwalk, Pueblo Zoo, local schools, and special events throughout Pueblo.
“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.”
According to CDOT, of the 13 vehicle fatalities in Pueblo County in 2025, eight were not wearing seat belts. Traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for children under 18 in Pueblo County from 2020 through the present, according to the Pueblo Department of Health and Environment.
“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.”
