In the mid-1960s, Americans began hearing a catchy jingle on their radios and televisions: “Buckle Up for Safety.” The public service campaign, launched around 1964, urged drivers and passengers to use seat belts—still a novelty in many cars of the era. Back then, seat belts were often optional or aftermarket add-ons, and most drivers weren’t in the habit of using them.
The campaign’s timing was significant. Car safety was only just entering the national conversation, and in 1966, Congress passed the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, giving federal regulators authority to set vehicle safety standards. As automakers phased in seat belts, PSAs like Buckle Up for Safety sought to shift public attitudes toward using them.
Despite the catchy tune and broad distribution, the campaign faced steep challenges. There were no universal laws requiring seat belt use, many vehicles still lacked belts, and cultural resistance to restraints remained strong. Usage rates stayed low through the 1960s, but the message planted seeds for future progress.
Later efforts—including more advanced belt designs, enforcement campaigns like Click It or Ticket, and mandatory seat belt laws—built on this early groundwork. Today, “Buckle Up for Safety” is remembered not only as a nostalgic jingle but also as one of the first nationwide pushes to make seat belts part of everyday life.
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