ORLANDO, Fla. – As we begin a new year, I know a lot of us are setting resolutions: eating better, exercising more, and spending more time with family.
However, one resolution I hope we all keep is to commit to being safer drivers.
On the latest edition of Trooper Steve on Patrol, I took the opportunity to go back to the basics, focusing on one of the simplest and most important parts of traffic safety: seat belt use.
Seat belts may seem like common sense, but Florida Statute 316.614 is very specific about when and how they must be used. Drivers and front-seat passengers are required to wear a seat belt at all times, and all passengers under the age of 18 must be properly restrained, no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. Even though I believe that whether you’re 10 or 90, you should be wearing your belt.
During the segment, I also demonstrated safe practices that every driver should be using before putting the vehicle in motion. That includes making sure seat belts are worn correctly: across the chest and lap, never tucked under an arm or behind the back, and taking a moment to check that everyone in the vehicle is properly buckled in.
I also stressed that seat belt use isn’t just about avoiding a citation. Seat belts are designed to keep you inside the vehicle during a crash, which dramatically reduces the risk of serious injury or death. It’s one of the most effective safety tools we have, yet it’s often overlooked during short trips or familiar drives.
As traffic picks up and distractions become more common on our roadways, going back to the fundamentals is one of the best ways we can all start the year on the right foot.
If we truly want a safer year on the roads, it starts with the choices we make every time we get behind the wheel, and that includes buckling up every single time.