The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) have launched a new campaign, “Never Skip the Click,” aimed at encouraging more Oklahomans to use seat belts. The initiative begins on Labor Day and will run throughout September, targeting an increase in seat belt usage across the state.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2023, Oklahoma’s seat belt usage rate is currently 86%, which is below the national average of 91%. This places Oklahoma 44th in the nation for seat belt use. Males aged 16 and older, particularly those living in rural areas, are identified as being at higher risk, with rural seat belt use dropping to 77%.
“Seat belts save lives, and our new ‘Never Skip the Click’ campaign is about turning that one small action into a habit,” said ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz. “Nearly half of all fatal crashes involve someone not buckled up, and we can change that with two seconds and one click. Buckling up is the simplest way to bring more Oklahomans home safely.”
The campaign aims to reshape attitudes toward seat belt safety by focusing on young men and rural drivers. Roger Straka, an ODOT employee and spokesperson for the campaign, stated: “We want seat belt use to become second nature, something you do every time, without a second thought. This campaign isn’t about rules or lectures. It’s about real people turning a simple action into a habitual practice that could save their lives.”
Messaging for “Never Skip the Click” will be peer-driven and culturally relevant, reaching people through highway signs each Wednesday during September as well as engagement efforts in schools and homes. Classroom kits and social media challenges like #ClickCheck are designed to normalize conversations about seat belts within families.
ODOT and OTA are collaborating with public safety groups and community advocates statewide. Campaign materials are available for anyone interested in promoting seat belt safety.
“On our turnpikes, drivers are traveling at higher speeds, which makes seat belts even more critical,” said OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle. “Crashes can happen in an instant and that one click can be the difference between walking away or not making it home. ‘Never Skip the Click’ is about protecting yourself and the people you care about every single trip.”
More information on the campaign can be found at www.DriveSafelyOklahoma.com.
