Clark Howard's Tips

Teens lax in buckling up; small cars becoming safer

May 20, 2008

There are some disturbing stats out about seat belt use. Only 80% of us wear them; that means 1 in 5 goes unbuckled!

Clark took high school physics. While he didn't understand much, he did understand the part about flying through the air during a sudden stop! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 68% of teens who were killed in nighttime car crashes weren't wearing seat belts. Parents, you're responsible for drilling the seat belt message into their heads.

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In Europe, new drivers are required to display a scarlet letter on their vehicles. It's a huge red-and-white "L" that helps alert other drivers to be extra vigilant around them. If we had that system, it would give police a heads-up to observe the behavior of young drivers.

Clark's 19-year-old daughter has been driving since she first got her learner's permit 4 years ago. By her own admission, she's still "learning" how to drive. Christa, meanwhile, is worried about when her 5 year old gets ready to drive.

In certain states, it's considered a badge of cool to not wear a seat belt. The top 3 offenders in this category include New Hampshire (the "live free or die" state), Massachusetts and Arkansas. On the flip side, Hawaii and Washington state are the best places when it comes to wearing seat belts.

Clark has a natural affinity for smaller vehicles. But just how safe are they? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety now says the Smart Car, which seats 2 passengers, has earned top ratings for side and front crash tests. The Honda Fit is another wundercar that's been built from the ground up to be extra safe.

This is a big change from the days when all small cars were considered unsafe. Today, small does not necessarily have to mean dangerous. While you can't defy the laws of physics, you can counteract them with good engineering.

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