TxDOT Partners With UIL on High School Seat Belt Challenge
AUSTIN – Skipping seat belts isn't a flex- it’s a deadly risk. The new “Saved by the Belt” competition challeng- es Texas teens to wear a seat belt every seat, every ride.
The Texas Depart ment of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Uni versity Interscholastic League (UIL) are calling on high school students to pledge to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle, and always drive like a Texan: kind, cour teous and safe.
Our future is on the line
Teens and young adults ages 15–20 make up nearly 9% of the Texas population, yet they were involved in 19% of all motor vehicle crashes in 2024. Tragically, 132 of the young people killed in those crashes weren’t wearing a seat belt.
“Teens will shape our communities for years to come, but the simple choice to buckle up-or not-can be the differ ence between a bright
future or a young life cut short," TxDOT Execu - tive Director Marc Wil liams said. “By instilling these habits now, we can help the next generation of Texas drivers make safe driving decisions for the rest of their lives.”
What TxDOT is doing
TxDOT's partnership with the UIL is part of its annual teen-focused Click It or Ticket campaign. Students at more than 1,500 high schools across Texas have been invited to compete in the “Saved by the Belt” challenge. Through Feb. 27, students can go to Tex asFootball.com to take the pledge to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle. The UIL will provide a grand prize of $5,000 to the school that gets the mostpledges.
Seat belts save lives The real winners in the contest will be the students who are safer on the road because they always wear their seat belts, the best defense in a crash. If you’re not buckled up, you could be ejected from the vehicle or even thrown into oth- er passengers. When you buckle up, you protect yourself-and your fel -
low passengers-from serious injury or death.
Although “Saved by the Belt" is specifically aimed at teens and young adults, it’s important to remember that Texas law requires all drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt. Unbuckled drivers and passengers-even those in the back seat- face fines and court costs
of up to $200.
The Click It or Ticket campaign is an im- portant part of TxDOT's Drive like a Texan: Kind.
Courteous. Safe. initia- tive. Drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road. By making thoughtful choices, we can all help keep each other safe. Learn more at DriveLikeATex an.com.
The information contained in this report represents reportable data
collected from the
Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3).
This information was received and processed by the department as of Nov. 12, 2025. To view additional traffic safe -
ty data, visit TxDOT's Traffic Safety Data Portal online.
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, maritime, rail and public transportation across the state.
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