Does Your Teen Wear A Seatbelt?

Although teen drivers statistically have the highest rate of accidents of any other demographic per 100,000 drivers, they also tend to be the least likely to buckle up, often ironically citing “safety” as their main reason for not wearing a seatbelt. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds in the United States, the majority of which involve unbuckled teens, drivers and passengers, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. It’s common for teens to use excuses for failure to wear a seatbelt, however rollover accidents are nearly always related to a vehicle’s stability in a turn, often while speeding. Seat belts are designed to prevent ejection in a rollover accident, as well as to prevent serious injuries in all motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a person can reduce his or her chance of being killed in a rollover by about 75% just by wearing a seat belt.