Chevrolet Debuts Industry-first ‘Buckle to Drive’ Feature
New feature is standard in 2020 Traverse and can prevent driver from shifting out of park if driver’s seatbelt is not buckled.
Chevrolet has just introduced an industry-first Buckle to Drive feature that can help remind young drivers to buckle up before driving. Buckle to Drive is standard in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, and when active can prevent the driver from shifting the vehicle out of park if the driver’s seatbelt is not buckled. Buckle to Drive is only available through the vehicle’s Teen Driver mode and builds upon Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system, introduced in 2015, as another step to help teen drivers stay safe on the road.
Buckling your seatbelt is the number one action drivers can take to protect themselves in a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Tragically, teens have among the lowest rates of seatbelt use. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes are unbuckled (CDC).
“Buckle to Drive is Chevrolet’s latest feature designed to encourage young drivers to develop safe driving habits right from the start,” said Tricia Morrow, Chevrolet safety engineer. “Buckle to Drive is embedded in Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system and is aimed at helping remind teens to buckle up every time they get behind the wheel.”
Because Chevrolet is concerned about the risks of not buckling up, it has conducted extensive research in the area. The Buckle to Drive feature in Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system was based on a recent internal pilot study of a similar feature that Chevrolet offered to select fleet customers. In fact, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that the feature increased the seatbelt use of adults who occasionally use a seatbelt by 16 percent compared to the standard audible chime seatbelt reminder in a similar Chevrolet vehicle.
“Safety is our number one priority at Chevrolet,” said Morrow, the mother of a teen driver. “I come to work every day with my children in mind because there is nothing more important than their safety. My hope is that Buckle to Drive will help guide more young drivers to wear their seatbelts and encourage positive conversations among teens, their peers and parents.”
How Buckle to Drive Works
- The Buckle to Drive feature is available only when the vehicle is in Teen Driver mode.
- If the vehicle is on and the driver’s seatbelt is not buckled, the feature is designed to not allow the driver to shift out of park for up to 20 seconds. When the brake pedal is pressed, the driver will hear an audible alert and see a message in the driver information center that reads “Buckle seatbelt to shift.”
- Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system with the Buckle to Drive feature will be standard on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, Malibu and Colorado, all arriving this summer.
Seatbelt Fast Facts
- Using your seatbelt is the number one thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. NHTSA
- Compared with other age groups, teens have among the lowest rates of seatbelt use. CDC
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. CDC
- In 2016, 2,433 teens in the United States ages 16-19 were killed and 292,742 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.CDC
- In 2017 alone, seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 lives. NHTSA
- Of the 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, 47 percent were not wearing seatbelts. NHTSA
Photos: John F. Martin/Chevrolet