Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Andy Wilson have jointly unveiled a hard-hitting new public awareness campaign aimed at tackling a persistent safety issue on Ohio’s roadways—people failing to wear seat belts. The initiative, called Hard Hitter, uses the theme of football to demonstrate how failing to buckle up not only endangers the unrestrained passenger but also poses a serious threat to others in the vehicle.
The campaign illustrates a vivid and alarming comparison. In the event of a crash at 50 miles per hour, an unbelted passenger can collide with another person in the vehicle with a force equivalent to “eight times the force of a 240-pound linebacker running at full speed.”
Governor DeWine stressed that seat belt decisions go beyond personal choice. “When you decide not to wear a seat belt, it’s naive to think that the only life at risk is your own,” he said. “By choosing not to buckle up, you’re choosing to risk the lives of everyone else in the car with you. We want everyone to think about that the next time they consider staying unbuckled – especially with friends and family in the car.”
Seat Belt Compliance Continues to Lag in Ohio
Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, Ohio continues to fall behind the national average when it comes to seat belt use. According to data from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), only 85.2% of Ohioans wore seat belts in 2024, compared to the national average of 91.2%. Even more concerning, in each of the past five years, over 60% of those killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel drew a direct link between his experience in football and the risks of car crashes. “Wearing your seatbelt every time you get in a car saves lives,” he said. “We hope this campaign helps Ohioans realize that buckling up is serious. As someone who has spent a career watching how hard linebackers can hit, being unbuckled in a crash is worse.”
DPS Director Andy Wilson echoed the urgency, stating: “Whether you’re behind the wheel or in the back seat, wearing a seat belt can mean the difference between life and death. Unbuckled fatalities in Ohio are not just tragic, they’re preventable.”
Targeting Gaps in Seat Belt Use
The campaign was launched following recommendations made by the Ohio Safety Belt Task Force, which issued a report in May 2024. The task force found that while front-seat seat belt use is relatively high, usage significantly drops for passengers in the back seat, on local roads, or while riding in taxis and rideshares.
Emily Davidson, director of OTSO, emphasized the need for consistent seat belt use. “We know a majority of people in Ohio understand the importance of wearing a seat belt, but far too many are still choosing to ride unprotected,” she said. “This new campaign is calling on everyone to wear their seat belt in every seat, on every trip.”
The campaign directs people to visit www.buckleup.ohio.gov, where they can find updated resources and safety information for people of all ages—from infants to the elderly.
Teaching Safety to the Next Generation
In addition to the Hard Hitter campaign, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office is continuing its educational efforts with younger Ohioans. Ahead of the 2024-2025 school year, OTSO launched Buckle Up with Brutus, a seat belt program for elementary students. Developed with help from Students Against Destructive Decisions and The Ohio State University, the initiative aims to teach second and third graders the importance of using seat belts and booster seats.
Since its introduction, school resource officers have brought Buckle Up with Brutus into classrooms across the state, reaching more than 6,500 students.
As Ohio continues to invest in educational outreach and hard-hitting media campaigns, state leaders are hopeful that awareness and responsibility will follow—ultimately reducing the number of preventable deaths on the road.
