Description and rationale

Seat belts have been shown to reduce the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants in a crash.1 Teenage drivers and passengers, however, have also been shown to have lower seat belt use rates than older drivers and passengers.2

Seatbelt use should be required for teenage drivers and passengers in both the learner and intermediate stages to reduce the risk of injury or death in their crashes.


1Goodwin et al. 2016; NHTSA, 2001; NCSA, 2015

2Goodwin et al., 2016; McCartt and Northrup, 2004; Ferguson, 2003