Teens Least Likely to Wear Seatbelts

Of all the drivers and passengers on Utah roads, teens are found to be the least likely age group to wear their seatbelts.

Two young lives changed forever

Early on Sunday Morning, the 22nd of May 2016, two teenagers were driving to the southern Utah town of Veyo, Utah when the vehicle they were in rolled, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Fatigue is thought to be the cause of the crash and unfortunately the situation was dramatically worse considering that both teens were not wearing their seatbelts.

Ejected 70 feet

Both occupants of the vehicle were ejected as it slid across the roadway and rolled repeatedly. The driver of the vehicle, 18 year old Drex Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene. His friend, 16 year old Taylor Carlton was life flighted to Dixie Reginal Medical Center and after being in a coma for most of the week, is starting to show signs of improvement. On a blog written by a family member, the teen was reportedly thrown 70 feet from the vehicle and sustained major injuries to her entire body, especially to the back of her head.

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According to the 2013 Utah Crash Facts, teenager drivers are the least likely of all age groups to wear their seatbelts. With drivers so inexperienced, there is never a more important time for seatbelt safety. The Utah Department of Health stated that “While most teen drivers and their passengers involved in a crash were restrained, 80% of teen drivers and their passengers killed in crashes were not buckled up.”

Laws encouraging seatbelts

To help protect everyone including teens from injuries due to lack of seatbelts, Utah began implementing new seatbelt laws last year. All persons in the vehicle are to be restrained with a seatbelt, unless under the age of 8 years old when they must be in a child safety seat or booster seat. Failure to wear a seatbelt will result in a $45 fine for the driver and passengers who are over the age of 16. This fine may be inexpensive, but it will hopefully make drivers and passengers more conscious of buckling up in the future.