Peter Schorsch
Ride-hailing company Uber and the Governors Highway Safety Association are launching an awareness campaign reminding travelers to fasten their seatbelts ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when nearly 42 million Americans are expected to celebrate the unofficial start of summer with a road trip.
“Make It Click: Every seat. Every ride” aims to educate the public on the dangers of riding unbuckled, whether they’re behind the wheel or being chauffeured by an Uber driver, and even if the trip is just down the street.
Uber and GHSA pointed to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing that more than 900 back seat passengers age eight and older died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, and about half of them could still be alive if they had used a seat belt.
NHTSA also estimates that seat belts saved up 14,668 lives in 2016 alone, the same year that it found nearly 27.5 million people still don’t buckle up.
“Studies have shown that adults who admit to not buckling up in the back seat, also overwhelmingly admit to not buckling during short trips,” said Kasra Moshkani, general manager of Uber Florida. “People have a false sense of security that the back seat is safer, and we plan to harness the power of technology to help change those behaviors. Our partnership with the GHSA is a first step.”
The awareness campaign is timed to coincide with the NHTSA’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Uber on this effort,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “Increasing belt use – particularly in the backseat – is one of the most persistent challenges for states. This campaign is a rare opportunity to reach millions of riders with the message that belt use is critical, no matter the vehicle or seat.”
