Colorado state agencies have launched their first Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign of 2026 this week, targeting unbuckled drivers and passengers after a troubling rise in seatbelt-related fatalities last year. The weeklong crackdown, running from April 6 through April 12, comes as officials work to address a deadly trend that claimed nearly half of all passenger vehicle deaths in 2025.
Fatal Statistics Drive Urgent Enforcement Push
The numbers paint a stark picture of road safety in Colorado. Out of 401 traffic fatalities involving passenger vehicles in 2025, 191 deaths involved people who were not wearing seatbelts. That means nearly 48% of all fatal crashes could have potentially been prevented with a simple click.
Law enforcement issued over 5,000 tickets during the three Click It or Ticket enforcement periods in 2025. Despite these efforts, the death toll from unbuckled passengers remains stubbornly high.
Tamara Rollison, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Transportation, emphasized the life-saving power of seatbelts. “Every day, seat belts save lives. So when you wear one, you instantly reduce your chances of injury or death by half, sometimes more than half,” she said.
Who Must Buckle Up Under Colorado Law
Colorado’s seatbelt requirements vary depending on where passengers sit and how old they are. The state mandates that all drivers and front-seat passengers wear seatbelts without exception. For backseat passengers, the rules differ significantly.
Backseat passengers only need to buckle up if they are under 18 years old. While adults riding in the back are not legally required to wear seatbelts, safety officials strongly encourage everyone to buckle up regardless of seating position.
“It is not a requirement for people in the backseat to wear seatbelts, but we absolutely highly encourage and urge people to wear their seatbelts if they’re sitting in the backseat,” Rollison stated.
One notable exception targets teen drivers specifically. For 16 and 17 year old drivers, all passengers must buckle up regardless of age or seating position. This is a primary enforcement law, meaning police can pull over teen drivers solely for seatbelt violations.
New Child Safety Rules Expand Protection
Colorado significantly strengthened its child passenger safety requirements last year, creating more detailed guidelines based on age, weight, and height. The updated law aims to ensure children receive age-appropriate protection in vehicles.
Children under 2 years old and weighing less than 40 pounds must ride in rear-facing car seats. Kids under 3 who weigh less than 20 pounds face the same requirement.
Several groups need car seats that can face either direction:
- Children under 2 years old who weigh over 40 pounds
- Kids between 2 and 3 years old weighing over 20 pounds
- Children aged 4 to 8 who weigh under 40 pounds
Children between 4 and 8 years old weighing over 40 pounds need forward-facing car seats or booster seats. Kids aged 9 to 17 must use either booster seats or regular seatbelts.
“There is research that goes into this to determine what are the best ages for the proper restraints. It’s based on the child’s age, based on their weight, based on their height to ensure that they are properly restrained in a vehicle,” Rollison explained.
Compliance Improves But Gap Remains
CDOT research reveals that over 90% of Coloradans currently buckle up when driving or riding in vehicles. While this represents strong compliance, state officials are pushing for universal adoption.
The agency has set an ambitious goal of reaching 100% seatbelt usage across the state. Closing that final 10% gap could save dozens of lives each year based on current fatality statistics.
Officials stress that wearing a seatbelt should become an automatic habit every single time someone enters a vehicle. “Your life depends on buckling up every single time that you’re in a vehicle, whether you’re the driver, whether you’re the passenger, whether you’re sitting in the front seat, whether you’re sitting in the back seat. That is the first thing that you must do automatically,” Rollison urged.
The Click It or Ticket enforcement period brings increased police presence on Colorado roads, with officers specifically watching for seatbelt violations. Fines for not buckling up vary but serve as both punishment and reminder that this simple action can mean the difference between life and death in a crash. As Colorado continues its fight to reduce traffic fatalities, the message from state officials remains clear: buckling up takes just seconds but protects you for the entire journey.
What do you think about Colorado’s seatbelt laws? Should backseat seatbelt requirements extend to all passengers regardless of age? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
