The South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), along with law enforcement partners statewide are joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national seat belt enforcement mobilization by kicking off the Buckle Up, South Carolina (BUSC) campaign.
From now through the end of May, the seat belt enforcement and education initiative aims to remind people to buckle up in the weeks before Memorial Day, which kicks off the 100 Deadly Days of Summer travel season.
“Each year, Memorial Day is the start of what we call the 100 Deadly Days of Summer, which is the busy travel period through Labor Day when we typically see an increase in traffic fatalities in South Carolina,” SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods IV said. “In an effort to save lives, we are reminding motorists that safety behind the wheel starts with buckling up.”
According to preliminary statistics, nearly one out of every two people in fatal collisions in South Carolina were not wearing a seat belt during the 100 Deadly Days of Summer period in 2024. Additionally, nearly one in four people who were involved in severe injury collisions in South Carolina were not wearing a seat belt during the same period.
To help reduce the number of fatal and severe injury collisions, the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the State Transport Police will conduct special enforcement from May 19 through May 31, 2025.
“We know that seat belts save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury,” said SC Highway Patrol Colonel Christopher Williamson. “That is why our troopers will be placing extra emphasis on seat belt and child restraint violations, to make sure those driving on our interstates and roadways are as safe as they can be. Remember — whether you are traveling far, or just going a few miles from home, always buckle up.”
State Transport Police Colonel Dwayne Wilson said his officers will also be focusing on ensuring commercial motor vehicle drivers and passengers are obeying the primary seat belt law and operating safely this summer.
“Our officers will work to educate commercial drivers about the dangers of not buckling up and enforce safety belt violations as they occur. There is a common misconception that people who drive large trucks and vehicles are safe without a seat belt because of the size of their vehicle, but that is simply not true. No matter the size of the vehicle, drivers and passengers benefit from buckling up.”
In support of the stepped-up enforcement, SCDPS is continuing its partnership with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for the third consecutive year. Through this partnership, Chastain continues to serve as the spokesperson for the SCDPS paid media educational campaign, Buckle Up, South Carolina.
Seat Belt Laws in South Carolina
South Carolina has a primary safety belt enforcement law. Under the primary law, a law enforcement officer has the authority to stop a driver if the officer has a clear and unobstructed view of a driver or occupant of a motor vehicle not wearing a safety belt or not secured in a child restraint system.
South Carolina’s safety belt law requires that every driver and every occupant of a motor vehicle, when it is being operated on the public streets and highways of this state, must wear a fastened safety belt that complies with all provisions of federal law for its use. The driver is charged with the responsibility of requiring every occupant 17 years of age or younger to wear a safety belt or be secured in a child restraint system as required by law. However, a driver is not responsible for an occupant 17 years of age or younger who has a driver’s license, special restricted license, or beginner’s permit and who is not wearing a safety belt.
This law does not apply to:
-A driver or occupant who possesses a written verification from a physician that he is unable to wear a safety belt for physical or medical reasons.
-Medical or rescue personnel attending to injured or sick individuals in an emergency vehicle when operating in an emergency situation as well as the injured or sick individuals.
-School, church, or day care buses.
-Public transportation vehicles except taxis.
-Occupants of vehicles in parades.
-United States mail carriers.
-An occupant for which no seat belt is available because all belts are being used by other occupants.
-A driver or occupants in a vehicle not originally equipped with safety belts.
Violators are subject to a fine not more than $25. No person may be fined more than $50 for any one incident of more than one violation.
You can read South Carolina seat belts laws in the South Carolina Code of Law Section 56-5-6510 through Section 56-5-6565.
