Chevy introduces industry-first ‘buckle to drive’ system to keep teen drivers safe | Landers Chevrolet Cadillac of Joplin

(Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

Being a new driver is tough work, requiring teens to constantly juggle a lot of newly-acquired skills while anticipating the actions of other drivers. Given all the things a teen driver is trying to keep in mind behind the wheel, it’s probably no surprise that thousands of beginning motorists are killed and injured each year because they neglect to fasten their seatbelts.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. In 2016, 2,433 Americans between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed in car accidents, with another 292,742 treated for injuries suffered in crashes. Of the 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, 47 percent were not wearing seat belts.

Always at the forefront of the quest for safer cars, Chevrolet recently introduced a new tactic to make young drivers buckle up: an industry-first “Buckle to Drive” system. Standard on the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, Colorado and Malibu, Buckle to Drive is the newest facet of Chevrolet’s Teen Driver System. Introduced in 2015, the system employs a suite of warnings, sensors and alerts to help parents make sure their Teen Drivers stay focused and safe on the highway, including a screen-viewable “driving report card” that helps parents track driving events like sudden acceleration and braking, and whether stability control and traction control were employed during hard cornering. Parents must input a PIN to access or alter Teen Driver Mode reports and settings.

Similar to the technology employed in a pilot test conducted by Chevrolet to help fleet operators keep their employees safe, Buckle to Drive works by preventing the vehicle from being shifted out of park until the driver’s seatbelt is buckled. When the brake pedal is pressed without the seat belt buckled, the driver hears an audible alert, and a message is displayed on the instrument cluster that reads: “buckle seat belt to shift.” The system only works if Teen Driver mode is activated via the touchscreen in the center dash.

“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, who is also the mother of a teen driver. “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.” Safety is our number one priority at Chevrolet. 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 seat belts and encourage positive conversations among teens, their peers and parents.”

It’s one more way that Chevy’s commitment to safety is making the driving world a little safer. If they think that much about keeping you safe, how good must their vehicles be? Want to see how Chevrolet is changing the way we get there? Stop in today at Landers Chevrolet Cadillac of Joplin for a test drive today, or check out our full selection online right now!