National Seatbelt Day

National Seatbelt Day
National Seatbelt Day

National Seatbelt Day is Nov. 14. It’s a national day that was established in 2019 after Uber, Volvo and the Governors’ Highway Association teamed up to promote the importance of wearing a seatbelt every time a person rides in a vehicle.

It’s been 60 years since the invention of the modern seatbelt and three-point seatbelts have now been a standard feature in cars for decades. People are encouraged to participate in National Seatbelt Day by posting on social media with the hashtag #NationalSeatBeltDay and sharing photos of yourself and others wearing seatbelts to remind everyone of the importance of their use and vehicle safety.

While many people think wearing a seatbelt is a no-brainer and it’s second nature to buckle up, sadly there are still a significant amount of people who either choose not to wear the seatbelt or forget to buckle up.

Statistics show roughly half of the individuals who die in motor vehicle collisions were not wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives and National Seatbelt Day seeks to keep advancing that message.

While National Seatbelt Day is officially on Nov. 14, though, everyday should be a seatbelt day. Children should be taught from their earliest age wearing seatbelts is not only important, it is an absolute necessity. This can be accomplished by explaining that seatbelts keep people safe while riding in a car. It can be shown when adults wear seatbelts in front of children.

Do not operate the car until all occupants are buckled up. Remind children seatbelts must be worn for the entirety of the ride, and that it is no excuse to take your seatbelt off to pick up an item that has been dropped, to grab something from a different area of the car or to take off a coat or sweater. Accidents happen in an instant and not having a seatbelt on can be the difference between life and death.