Buckle up to ensure a safe and enjoyable prom

It’s PROM season again and strapless is out!

Teens can you believe it? You and your friends are finally on your way to the PROM! You’ve found the perfect dress, and you want to show up looking great. So you decide not to buckle up because you think the seat belt will wrinkle your dress. But what about not showing up at all? Riding unbuckled could mess up a lot more than just your dress.

In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Research shows inexperience, speed, drinking and driving, not wearing seat belts, and distracted driving contribute to this deadly problem. Furthermore, risk goes up when teens drive with other teens in the car. Nearly two out of three teen crash deaths that involve 16-year-old drivers happen when a new driver had one or more teen passengers. In Montana, in the last 10 years, 20-40% of all crashes, regardless of severity, have involved young drivers.

Learning to drive is often considered a rite of passage for teenagers. But with the reward of being a new driver comes real risk. All new drivers—even straight-A students and “good kids”—are more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in a fatal crash.

ARRIVE ALIVE AT YOUR PROM; protect yourself and your friends. Limit distractions, obey the speed limit and always wear your seat belt.

For more information about occupant protection and teen driver safety , please visit www.buckleup.mt.gov and http://plan2live.mt.gov/default_seatbelt.shtml