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WHY DON’T TEENS BUCKLE UP?

Teens Cite Peer Pressure as Top Reason for Not Buckling Up
According to a nationwide polling of high school students conducted by Volkswagen of America, Inc. in 2004,

• Peer pressure,
• Lack of comfort,
• A feeling of invincibility, and
• Just not necessary for short trips from school or home are the leading reasons American teenagers cite for their tendency towards non-use of safety belts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens and young adults are the group least likely to buckle up and most likely to die in traffic accidents. In 2001, more than 5,000 teens perished in auto accidents; two-thirds of those, tragically, were not wearing safety belts.
Volkswagen informally polled several hundred high school students and teachers and asked: “What are the primary reasons teenagers don’t wear seat belts as often as they should?” Among the findings:

• Uncool (peer pressure not to wear; embarrassment) - 32%
• Uncomfortable (too constricting; wrinkles clothes) - 30%
• Only traveling short distance - 20%
• Feeling of invincibility (nothing will happen to me) - 18%

Of particular note was the attitude that seat belts are not necessary when traveling short distances, as statistics show that, traditionally, the majority of auto accidents occur within one to five miles of one’s home.

Additionally, most students knew of a friend or relative who had been in an auto accident and who benefited from wearing a safety belt. Despite this, many still felt such a scenario was not likely to happen to them. Students polled resided in the areas of: Atlanta; Boston; Detroit; Los Angeles; Miami/Ft. Lauderdale; New York; San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

“We believe the most effective messenger for a teenager is another teenager and our survey findings confirm this,” said Frank Maguire, vice president of sales and marketing for Volkswagen of America. “This is a national health problem that could be cured if teens thought it was hipper and more important for their well-being to wear a safety belt. We want to spread the message from teen to teen that safety belts save lives.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in fact, reports that safety belts save over 11,000 lives a year.

"Inexperience behind the wheel, coupled with risk-taking behavior such as speeding, drinking and driving, and lack of seat belt use, often yields tragic results for our young people," said Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., the NHTSA administrator.”

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Cinto de segurança
by: Vitorino

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