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Click it or Ticket: The Critical Importance of Seat Belt Use in Commercial Vehicles

May. 16 2025 Safety By McCandless Idealease

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As we gear up for the busy summer travel season, it's crucial for all drivers, especially those operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), to prioritize safety on the road. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect yourself and others is by buckling up. Despite the widespread knowledge of its importance, many drivers still neglect this vital safety measure. With the Click It or Ticket campaign underway, there is an increased focus on seat belt usage, highlighting not only its life-saving benefits but also the legal implications of non-compliance. In this blog post, we’ll explore why wearing a seat belt is essential for CMV drivers, share alarming statistics about seat belt usage, and provide practical tips to foster a culture of safety in the fleet. Let's work together to ensure our roads are safe for everyone!

In this issue:

  • CMV Seat Belt Toolkit Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers.
  • Does Your Company Driver Policy Address Seat Belt Usage?
  • Registration is open online for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Spring Safety Seminar!

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Regardless of the vehicle you operate, one of the most effective ways to ensure safety for both drivers and passengers is to fasten your seatbelt. During the Memorial Day holiday, you can expect an increased presence of law enforcement on the roads due to the Click It or Ticket campaign. Running from May 19 to June 1, this initiative emphasizes the significance of wearing seat belts and highlights the legal ramifications, such as fines, associated with not doing so.

Fatal accidents on American roads are on the rise, with one significant factor being the reluctance to use seat belts. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is dedicated to safeguarding commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and promoting seat belt usage among all passengers in these vehicles.

FMCSA's initiative serves as a reminder to drivers about the importance of wearing a seat belt:

  • Helps protect them in a crash
  • Complies with the law
  • Increases the chance of making it home safely

To summarize, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) mandate that all seating positions in a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle (CMV) must be equipped with seat belts. Furthermore, according to 49 CFR 392.16, a CMV that has a seat belt assembly at the driver's seat cannot be operated unless the driver is adequately secured with the seat belt.

In 2022, there were 916 fatalities involving commercial truck drivers in crashes. Notably, 635 of those drivers—representing 69.3%—were not wearing seat belts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. This marks the second-highest percentage of driver deaths without seat belts recorded in 2017.

Although approximately 14% of CMV drivers still neglect to wear seat belts, it's essential to acknowledge the numerous drivers who prioritize safety by consistently buckling up. So, what are the reasons to fasten your seat belt? Here are a few key points:

  • It keeps you safe. As a CMV driver, safety on the road is your top priority—and that includes using your seat belt.
  • It helps you make it home. Whether it's to family, friends, or even pets, getting home to the people who depend on you is what matters most.
  • It's the law. CMV drivers take pride in safe driving and their critical role in keeping America moving. Following safety policies and laws is a sign of true professionalism.

Please help us ensure the safety of our roads and the CMV community by always buckling up. It's important to share this vital safety message as well. Check out the educational materials and safety tips available for viewing and download below.

CMV Seat Belt Toolkit Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers

Seat Belt Safety for CMV Drivers

Using a safety belt is one of the most cost-effective and straightforward methods to safeguard commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Not only does wearing a seat belt protect the driver, but it also helps reduce the chances of serious injury to others. Drivers who are buckled up are more capable of maintaining control of their vehicles during emergencies, which decreases the likelihood of further accidents.

Seat Belt Usage Concerns

During my review of our customers' CSA SMS scores, a recurring issue was identified: numerous violations related to seat belt usage. This violation has a severity weight of 7 points and adversely affects a carrier's Unsafe Driving BASIC score in the CSA SMS.

When drivers fail to wear seat belts while operating their vehicles, they expose themselves and others to unnecessary risks. Furthermore, in states where not wearing a seat belt is classified as a primary offense, this can trigger a full roadside inspection, resulting in additional violations beyond just the seat belt infraction.

Tips to Increase Seat Belt Usage

  • Establish a straightforward company policy that always mandates the use of seat belts in all company vehicles when the vehicle is in motion.
  • Incorporate specified disciplinary measures in your policy for drivers who are issued seat belt violations.
  • Purchase trucks equipped with brightly colored driver's belts, such as orange or yellow, to enhance visibility and facilitate enforcement of their usage.
  • Think about introducing a life insurance policy linked to seat belt use as an incentive. This policy would provide a benefit to the driver's beneficiary in the event of a fatal accident, provided the driver is wearing a seat belt while operating one of your vehicles.

Does Your Company Driver Policy Address Seat Belt Usage?

Seat Belt Myths — Debunked

MYTH 1: Safety belts are uncomfortable and restrict movement.

Fact:

A study conducted by the Transportation Research Board on the seat belt usage of commercial drivers revealed that many drivers do not perceive seat belts as uncomfortable or overly restrictive. When fitted correctly, discomfort is minimal, and ensuring proper positioning of the seat, lap, and shoulder belts can significantly diminish any feeling of restriction.


MYTH 2: Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision that doesn't affect anyone else.

Fact:

Choosing not to wear a seat belt endangers not only yourself but also your family, friends, and other drivers on the road. Seat belts play a crucial role in helping drivers maintain control during an accident, which can reduce further injury. Additionally, it's legally mandated: federal laws require all drivers of commercial vehicles to wear their seat belts.


MYTH 3: Safety belts prevent escape from a burning or submerged vehicle.

Fact:

Wearing seat belts enhances your chances of escaping by keeping you from being knocked out. In fact, fires or submersions happen in fewer than five non-deadly large-truck accidents.


MYTH 4: It’s better to be thrown clear of the wreckage in a crash.

Fact:

You're four times more likely to die if thrown from a vehicle. In 2004, 168 truck drivers died after being ejected from their cabs during a crash.


MYTH 5: It takes too much time to buckle up 20 times a day.

Fact: Buckling your belt takes about three seconds. Even doing it 20 times a day adds up to just one minute total.


MYTH 6: Good truck drivers don't need to wear safety belts.

Fact:

Even the best drivers can be hit by other drivers, experience mechanical failures, or face unexpected weather conditions. A seat belt protects against injuries by preventing ejection and safeguarding your head and spine—even when it's not your fault.


MYTH 7: A large truck protects you—seat belts aren't necessary.

Fact:

In 2022, 916 commercial truck drivers were killed in crashes. Of those, 634 were not wearing seat belts. A large truck doesn't guarantee protection—seat belts do.


MYTH 8: Seat belts aren't necessary for low-speed driving.

Fact:

In a 30-mph frontal crash, an unbelted person continues moving at 30, hitting the windshield with the same force as falling from a three-story building.


MYTH 9: A lap belt alone offers sufficient protection.

Fact:

The combination of a lap and shoulder belt holds a driver securely in place during a crash. This reduces the risk of serious injury or death and helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle.


Registration is now open online for the 2025 Idealease/NPTC Spring Safety Seminars!


Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in the spring and fall of 2025. The one-day seminar this year will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars and will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice and experienced transportation professionals.


Upcoming Fall Seminars:

  • 9/16/2025 - Weirton, WV
  • 10/21/2025 - Los Angeles, CA
  • 10/23/2025 - Baltimore, MD

To register for an upcoming fall seminar in 2025, click on the following link:
Safety Seminar Registration


*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.