May 12, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.) — On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) alongside the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) held a press event to launch the 2025 Make It Click campaign, which will run from May 12 to June 1.
During the yearly campaign, NDOT’s Highway Safety Office (HSO) awards grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to law enforcement agencies across the state. The grants are used to fund strategies focused on driver safety and increasing seat belt use. This year, the NDOT HSO has awarded $284,144 across more than 50 agencies in about 25% of Nebraska’s counties. These regions, representing over 80% of the statewide population, were identified as priorities for funding due to higher crash rates compared to the state average.
2024 was the deadliest year on Nebraska roads in nearly two decades with 251 fatalities. The 2024 Make It Click campaign saw 46 law enforcement agencies make a total of 3,921 citations across the state. According to the NDOT HSO, the state’s seat belt usage rate was 80.2 percent in 2024, up from 77.3 percent in 2023— but despite the increase in usage, 67 percent of people involved in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts. With trends heading in the wrong direction, campaigns like Make It Click and its national counterpart Click It or Ticket are an important strategy in reducing risky driving and improving safety.
“The Make It Click campaign message is straightforward and effective,” said NSP Major Jeff Wilcynski. “Every time you enter your vehicle, make your seat belt click. Three seconds is all it takes to wear your seat belt. Those three seconds could be the difference between life and death.”
Beyond Make It Click, the NDOT, in partnership with NSP and DHHS, works frequently with schools and communities to educate drivers on how seat belts save lives and improve safety on roadways. A few initiatives that aim to educate the next generation of drivers include Buckle Up Phone Down and Teens in the Drivers Seat.
