Traffic at a standstill on Interstate 80, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
NEBRASKA – In 2024, an estimated 251 people lost their lives on Nebraska roads— the highest rate in 17 years—a stark reminder of the urgent need for highway safety efforts.
To address this critical issue, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Highway Safety Office (HSO) hosted its annual Highway Safety Conference on Feb. 19-20 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. The event brought together law enforcement, safety training employees, local health departments, healthcare workers, and other highway safety advocates, educators, and policymakers to share life-saving information and strengthen partnerships in pursuit of zero traffic fatalities in Nebraska.
The event featured sessions on public participation and youth engagement in traffic safety. A highlight was hearing directly from young drivers. Students from David City High School’s chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Grand Island Senior High shared firsthand insights into teen driving habits and what it would take to get their peers to buckle up and put their phones down.
“Despite knowing the dangers, many teens still find themselves looking at their phones while driving,” said Bill Kovarik, highway safety administrator of NDOT’s Highway Safety Office. “They often feel a sense of obligation to respond to calls or texts from their parents, even in critical moments. Conversations with teen drivers are crucial, especially as we work to deliver safety messages to them. We need to understand where and how they access this information.”
In 2023, an alarming 81 percent of teen traffic fatalities in Nebraska involved individuals not wearing seat belts, according to NDOT’s HSO, even though drivers and passengers are 45 percent more likely to survive a crash if they are wearing their seat belts.
As a state, Nebraska ranks 49th out of 50 in seat belt usage. This underscores the necessity for ongoing engagement and education to promote safer driving habits among peers