Monitoring Devices Remind Teens to Buckle Up

When most people get in the car the logical response is to start the engine and put on their safety belt; however many teens are not using that logic and are forgetting to buckle up according to a study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In fact, almost half of 16- and 17-year-old drivers killed in crashes -- roughly 2,500 teens -- in 2007 were unbelted.

Monitoring devices could help encourage teens to take this important step, the researchers found.

While 94 percent of teens involved in the study used safety belts already, the remaining teens buckled up when the monitoring devices continued to buzz or make other sounds. Similar results were found by the researchers in 2006 among drivers of all ages using belt reminders that chime or buzz.

IIHS says that the reminders are a necessary tool in reminding all drivers, not only teens, to buckle up. The noises encourage drivers to comply with safety belt laws and give an incentive since fastening a seat belt is the quickest way to make the noise stop.

For the past 23 years, GEICO has held a national art and design contest for students to get across the message that seat belts save lives. The next GEICO competition kicks off Sept. 1. Through traditional poster art, graphic design and video submissions, students are encouraged to creatively show the importance of how safety belts save lives. Rules and information can be found on www.geicosafetybeltart.com.

For information on GEICO's teen safe driving program, please visit http://www.geico.com/information/safety/auto/safety-library/.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) -- as part of Berkshire Hathaway -- is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States*. GEICO provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 16 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys.