As George Washington is rumored to have said, “I cannot tell a lie. It’s important to wear your seat belt, all the time.” Okay, so maybe Washington didn’t mention seatbelts in that quote, but if he were alive today, chances are he’d agree that seatbelts are a necessary part of the driving experience.

The National Safety Council says, “Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of crash injuries by 50 percent.”

Who is most likely NOT to wear a seatbelt?

According to the National Safety Council, this list includes:

1. Men
2. African-Americans
3. Teens
4. Those driving alone

Though some may see a seatbelt as an inconvenience that restricts their movement and wrinkles their clothes, seat belts are actually very important and serve several purposes.

EverydayHealth.com says seatbelts:

• Keep you from being thrown outside the vehicle, where your car as well as the surrounding environment could possibly injure you.

• Disperse the pressure from a crash across the body rather than any one specific part of the body, resulting in less serious bodily injury.

• Protect you from brain and spinal cord injuries, both of which can have severe or even deadly consequences.

• They help slow the rate of speed your body is traveling if you crash. That helps lessen injuries. The higher the rate of speed during impact, the better the chance of critical injuries.

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be” – Abraham Lincoln.

Make up your mind to be happy wearing your seatbelt! It’s a small thing with a big impact.

If you do get into a fender bender and need repairs, give Great Plains Auto Body a call at 402.334.7100.