Police Remind Public to Buckle Up for Safety as Thanksgiving Approaches 

Hawaiʻi Police Department, in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is reminding drivers that seat belts save lives. Whether driving across town or across island during the long Thanksgiving weekend, everyone in a vehicle should Buckle Up. Every Trip. Every Time. In addition to being required by law, buckling up is the best defense against injury or death in a crash.

Hawaiʻi Island police along with state and local law enforcement agencies across the country will be issuing tickets to drivers who choose not to buckle up. In Hawaiʻi County, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $102 per person.

“Wearing your seat belt is one of the easiest ways to stay safe while out on the road,” said Torey Keltner, program manager of Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Traffic Services Section.

“We want everyone to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled before you ever turn on the car — and that includes children being in the correct car seats, too,” he said. “Far too often our officers see the horrific results of traffic crashes where the occupants were not wearing seat belts. There’s no good excuse…Just wear a seat belt.”

Last year in Hawaiʻi County, 31 percent, 5 of the 16 people killed as a result of a vehicle crash in which they were not wearing a seatbelt. As of November 20, 2024, 22 percent, 5 of the 23 people killed on Hawaiʻi Island as a result of vehicle crashes were not wearing their seatbelts. These deaths represent needless tragedies for families across our island and could have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

Remember: buckle up, every trip, every time.