COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers and passengers to wear safety belts, citing crash statistics that show the risks of traveling without one.
According to the Patrol, 2,741 people who were not wearing an available safety belt have been killed in crashes since 2021. During that time, 72% of occupants ages 21 to 40 who died in crashes were not wearing an available safety belt.
Troopers also issued more than 332,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations during the same period.
Ohio law requires all front-seat occupants of passenger vehicles to wear safety belts. Passengers younger than 15 must also be restrained, regardless of where they are seated.
Although Ohio’s safety belt law is a secondary violation, troopers will enforce the requirement when motorists are stopped for other violations and found not wearing a safety belt.
Gov. Mike DeWine encouraged drivers and passengers to buckle up on every trip, while Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones said troopers frequently see the consequences of not wearing a safety belt.
The Patrol said safety belts remain one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of death and injury in a crash.
The public can call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists. The Patrol encourages callers to do so safely.
Last Updated on October 1, 2026 by AVC News
