Massachusetts Seat Belt Usage Hits 86%, Highest in Five Years

Massachusetts seat belt usage rose to 86% last year, the highest in at least five years. However, this percentage remains below the national average, which is near 91%, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2024.

According to an Axios Boston report, a state study polled 24,662 drivers and passengers across 147 locations. Women showed higher compliance at 90%, while men were at 82%. Pickups had the lowest seatbelt usage rate among vehicle categories at 73%.

Hispanic occupants posted the most significant year-over-year gain, rising six percentage points to 77%.

Bristol County seatbelt usage is reported at 78%, with Middlesex and Essex counties driving the most substantial gains.

Axios Boston noted that the rise from 84% in 2024 to 86% in 2025 shows progress in Massachusetts, even as the state treats seat belt violations as a secondary offense.

In comparison, seatbelt usage for New Hampshire-registered vehicles increased to 85%, an 11-point jump that narrows the compliance gap with Massachusetts.