Study: Despite The Warnings, Some Teens Still Not Buckling Up
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of the simplest things you can due to increase safety in a vehicle is buckle up, yet a study finds teens have a list of excuses for not doing it.
About 2,500 teens die each year in traffic accidents and half of them weren't wearing a seat belt.
What gives?
Safe Kids Worldwide looked at the issue and President and CEO, Philadelphia native Kate Carr says teens had a variety of unimpressive reasons.
"One: it wasn't habit or they forgot. Two: they weren't going that far. Three: they thought it was uncomfortable, or four: maybe they were going to a party. Honestly, we need to debunk that as excuses."
Carr says one of the major ways parents can help is to do it right themselves. Put on the seatbelt, every time. Don't text behind the wheel. Don't make phone calls. She urges teens to "call out" unsafe driving because about half the teens killed annually are passengers.
For more information, visit: safekids.org