DELRAY BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — Delray Beach motorists may observe more vehicles stopped by Police throughout their city during this week and throughout upcoming months. The Delray Beach Police Department has joined a nationwide seat belt enforcement campaign which operates from December 1, 2025 until September 2026.

The department will monitor drivers and their passengers for seat belt non-compliance throughout the extended period to promote seat belt usage for all trips and journeys. The agency created an extended enforcement period to motivate all drivers to wear seat belts from start to finish of their journey.

The federal crash statistics demonstrate how dangerous it is to travel without seat belt protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that someone who fails to wear a safety belt dies in a car accident every 47 minutes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 49% of passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2023 fatal crashes were not wearing their seat belts.

The number of motor-vehicle crash deaths during 2023 reached 40,901 according to NHTSA data which showed a 4.3% decrease from 2022. The first half of 2025 shows an 8.2% decrease in early projections which maintains the current negative trend. The fatal outcome of a crash depends on seat belt usage according to safety officials.

Federal scientists conducted research which showed seat belts save front-seat passengers and drivers from death by 45%. People who choose to drive without seat belts face a 30 times higher risk of being thrown from their vehicle and NHTSA data shows that ejection from a vehicle always results in fatal consequences.

The national seat belt use rate dropped to 91.2% during 2024 after reaching its peak at 91.9% during 2023. The Delray Beach police force dedicated officers to this extended enforcement period because of the observed seat belt non-compliance rates. The Traffic Unit of Delray Beach police will conduct regular patrols and distribute seat belt reminders throughout the city during this program.

The department requires seat belt use for all driving situations including short Atlantic Avenue trips and long-distance journeys. The department explains that seat belt use reduces the risk of fatal injuries during all types of accidents including those that appear minor.