Texas Teens Urged to Buckle Up and Stay Safe on the Road

In Texas, we take pride in raising strong, independent young people. But when it comes to driving, independence without responsibility can turn deadly in seconds. As a father of eight children who are all now young adults, my big fear has always been car crashes due to driver inattention. If there's one thing I pushed in my household, "don't even stick the key in the ignition until you're buckled up."

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The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching a new statewide effort aimed directly at Texas teens, and it starts with one simple habit: buckle up every seat, every ride.

Texas Teens and Crash Statistics

Teens and young adults ages 15-20 make up nearly 9% of Texas’ population, yet they were involved in 19% of all motor vehicle crashes in 2024. Even more heartbreaking?

132 young Texans killed in crashes last year were not wearing a seat belt. That number isn’t just a statistic. It’s families. Classmates. Teammates. Futures that never got the chance to unfold. TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said it plainly: the simple choice to buckle up can mean the difference between a bright future or a life cut short.

The “Saved by the Belt” Challenge in Texas

TxDOT has partnered with the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to launch the “Saved by the Belt” competition. More than 1,500 Texas high schools have been invited to participate.

Through February 27, students can visit TexasFootball.com and pledge to wear a seat belt every time they get in a vehicle. The school with the most pledges wins a $5,000 grand prize from UIL. The real prize, though, is coming home safe.

Seat Belts Save Texas Lives

Seat belts remain the single most effective protection in a crash.

Without one, you risk:

• Being ejected from the vehicle
• Slamming into other passengers
• Suffering severe or fatal injuries

And it’s not optional.

Texas law requires all drivers and passengers, including those in the back seat, to wear a seat belt. Violations can lead to fines and court costs of up to $200.

Drive Like a Texan

This initiative is part of TxDOT’s broader campaign: Drive like a Texan: Courteous. Kind. Safe. Being a Texan means looking out for one another. That includes on the road.

From my perspective, this isn’t about government campaigns or slogans. It’s about moms and dads not getting that knock on the door. It’s about coaches not losing players. It’s about graduation photos actually happening.

Buckling up isn’t weakness. It’s leadership. And in Texas, we lead.

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