Seat belts may seems like an inconvenience to some, but they play an important part in driving safely and protecting lives during in the case of accidents. The National Highway Safety Administration estimate that front seat passengers who use lap and shoulder seatbelts reduce the possibility fatal injury by 45 percent and serious injury by 50 percent. Drivers that do not wear seatbelts are at an increased risk for serious harm or even death.
When teens get their driver’s license, parents should sit down with their children and lay down some ground rules. Teens need to be well-informed about distracted driving, underage drinking, and the importance of using seatbelts. Parents should stress that that teens need to use seatbelts every time they drive, even if it is only for a short trip.
Parents can lead by example by using their seatbelts appropriately. A good example of seatbelt safety can go a long way in keeping teenagers safe on the road. People who are not properly restrained can easily be ejected from a vehicle, so vigilant seatbelt usage can make a big difference in keeping teen drivers and passengers safe.
In order for seat belts to work, teenagers must use them properly. It may seem like a simple task, but go over how to properly wear a seatbelt in the driver’s seat with your teen the first time they get behind the wheel. The shoulder strap must cross the chest away from the neck and the lap belt needs to go over the hips just below the stomach.
There are tragic stories of teen deaths that could have been avoided with the simple use of seat belts. It only takes one time to drive without them and that could be the one incidence when a crash occurs and a teen driver is hurt or killed.
*Photo Courtesy of Nanny Snowflake via Creative Commons License