Seat belts save lives. This is a simple and powerful fact that has been proven time and time again in studies and in real life across the country. Though the vast majority of adults routinely buckle up, the younger crowd has a much lower rate of seat belt use, and also a much higher propensity for injury causing car wrecks. The fact that they fail to buckle up in the same numbers as the more mature population has resulted in young adults being the most likely to suffer serious injury in a car crash.
In order to turn the tide parents, in Waterbury should instill in their young children a habit of always using their seat belts. This habit will hopefully continue into young adulthood and help protect your child in the unfortunate event of an automobile accident.
Many young people avoid putting on their seat belts as a result of poor judgment. They may believe that seat belt use is unnecessary if they are only expecting to travel a short distance. Or, they may believe that wearing a seat belt makes them seem “nerdy” in the eyes of their peers. Another reason young people may not wear their seatbelts is due to the fact that they often move around in the vehicle. Teens and young adults can often be seen dancing and roughhousing while in a moving vehicle. In their minds, wearing a seatbelt restricts their abilities to move freely about the car.
Of course, mature adults realize that seat belt use is about safety, not making a fashion statement. But getting this point across to young adults can be difficult. This is why it is recommended that parents lead by example, and always buckle up. And parents are also recommended to always enforce a policy of buckling up when traveling with their children.
The Law Offices of Hastings, Cohan & Walsh, LLP encourages all parents to talk to their children about buckling up. We can be reached at 89 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106-1515 (888) 244-5480
