Buckle Up: Seat Belt Use Lowest Among Teen Drivers

It is one of the easiest and safest things any driver can do when inside a vehicle, yet teen drivers are the group doing it the least. Buckling your seat belt can save lives, but the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes were unbuckled. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 45% of teen drivers who died in 2019 were unbuckled. To add to that, when the teen driver involved in a fatal crash was unbuckled, nine out of 10 of the passengers who died were also unbuckled! We need to reel in these teens and start showing them they aren't invincible and they need to wear their seat belts.

What Can You Do To Help?

While these are troubling numbers to see, especially when it is such an easy thing to do, there are things you can do to help get teens buckled up.

Let Them Know

Buckling up is the law. It is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help reduce the chances of death and injury in a crash. Let your teen know why seat belts are so important and how they prevent ejection from a vehicle. Let them know they must be worn in the front seat and the back seat every time they are in the vehicle. Each state has different laws in regards to seat belts, so talk to them about your state's laws. Let them know what could happen if they aren't buckling up: tickets, loss of driving privileges, injury or even death.

Be The Example

When it comes to anything related to driving and being behind the wheel, you want to be the example your teen is going to want to follow. Always wear your seat belt in the car. When children grow up watching their parents or loved ones buckle up, then they are more likely to do the same when they become drivers. Another great thing to do is before pulling out of the driveway, make sure all passengers are buckled up. This will show your teenager just how important it is to use those seat belts.

Always Remind Them

You could tell your teen one time and be done, but we all know that doesn't mean it will stick. This is an ongoing effort, so make sure to ask them about wearing their seat belt and give them simple reminders from time to time. You could leave a sticky note in the car to remind them, as the visual reminder is always helpful. Whether they are driving or a passenger, your teen should be buckling up regardless of where they are at in the vehicle.

While it may only take a few seconds to buckle up, it could make the difference of a lifetime. Stay safe and buckle up!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.