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Attention teen drivers: Buckle up for seat belt safety

How you can help your teens make seat belt safety a habit.

Teen driver learning about seat belt safety

Teens often fail to wear seat belts

Teenagers are often the most inexperienced drivers on the road and using a seat belt should be a high priority. However, teenagers are the biggest non-users of seatbelts – about 43% of teenagers don't buckle up every time they drive. The CDC found in 2019 that only a little more than half wear a seat belt when riding in a car as a passenger. Some common excuses teenagers gave for not wearing a seatbelt are:

I forgot.
I wasn't even going that far.
Seat belts are uncomfortable.
I don't want to ruin my clothes.
I want to sleep.

Seat belt facts

Discussing with your teenager the dangers of not wearing a seat belt will help them understand the importance of always buckling up. Your teenager should know:

Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of death for teens.
More than half of teens killed in car crashes were not wearing seat belts.
Seat belts reduce the risk of death for front-seat passengers by 45%.
Seat belt tickets can cost as little as $10 and can be as high as $200.

Teach your teen to buckle up

Setting a good example about seat belt use is even more important than talking with your teenager. You can be an example by:

Always wearing your seat belt: Be a role model – yes they are watching.
Creating the habit: Require everyone to buckle up before starting the car.
Leaving reminders: Put a sticky note next to the ignition.
Knowing the law: Discuss your state's seat belt laws and fines.
Giving them the facts: Share how seat belts have proven to save lives.
Making it a Rule: Revoke privileges for seat belt misuse.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm^® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.