The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is taking a stand against the startlingly low seat belt usage in Pueblo County, as revealed by the preliminary findings of the 2025 Colorado Seat Belt Study. According to these results, published by CDOT, the usage rate in Pueblo County sits at a mere 71.6%, far below the state average of 90.7% and the national average of 91.2%. To combat these alarming statistics, CDOT has announced the launch of a community coalition dedicated to amplifying the importance of seat belt usage within the county.
CDOT's Traffic Safety Communications Manager, Sam Cole, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “There are no excuses when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones in a vehicle,” as per CDOT, highlighting the 19-point disparity between Pueblo’s usage rate and the state average and remarking on the local community’s involvement in remedying this critical safety issue. This newly formed coalition, comprising local stakeholders from varying sectors such as health, education, business, and community leadership, is tasked with strategizing ways to raise water awareness regarding seat belt usage and thereby instilling it as a community-held value, this comes on the heels of CDOT's collaborative assembly with community officials at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo on Monday, where they stressed the engagement of diverse partners in the initiative.
CDOT’s initiative extends to the installation of creative "No Excuses" seat belt displays at high-traffic Pueblo locales, including the Riverwalk, Pueblo Zoo, and various schools, as part of its visibility drive. These displays showcase actual seat belts bearing messages that confront common rationalizations for not securing oneself in a vehicle, supported by stark data affirming that the majority of crashes occur under normal driving conditions close to home. Deputy Mayor and Pueblo Chief of Police Chris Noeller, Randy Evetts from the Public Health & Environment department, and leaders of local commerce and business chambers have expressed support for the program, emphasizing its health, safety, and community reputation aspects.
