As the State Administering Agency (SAA) for grant funding received by Massachusetts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of Grants and Research is responsible for the state's Safety Belt Usage Observation Study. This study is conducted annually as part of an effort to evaluate seat belt use across Massachusetts. In 2025, the study conducted by a team at UMass Amherst's UMassSafe showed that the state has reached an all time high seat belt use rate of 85.53%. This achievement is the result of coordinated efforts by OGR's Highway Safety Division, Massachusetts State Police, local law enforcement, MassDOT and other road safety partners.
To view the 2025 report and reports from previous years, visit our Report Archive.