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"Teens are at Risk", says
the U.S. Department of Transportation, and "Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds in the United
States." Katie's Story
To declare your "Cross Your Heart Promise", go to: www.katiesstory.com
Featured on TBO.com, March 15, 2007
As a mother I did all I could to ensure the safety
of my daughter throughout her 16 years, and it still was not enough. My daughter, Katie Marchetti, lost her life on March
4, 2006. She was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected
from her car and run over by an unsuspecting motorist on Interstate 75 only 30 minutes from home. The driver survived because
of wearing a seat belt. I am trying to now live with the "what might" have happened if she only had been wearing
her seat belt.
Safety belts reduce the chances of being killed or seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash by almost 50 percent
because they prevent ejection from the vehicle, spread forces from the crash over a wide area of the body, allow the body
to slow down gradually and protect the head and spinal cord from serious injury. Most teens are taught this in driver's education classes and are well aware of the benefits of wearing safety
belts. As a result of my daughter's preventable death, many lives were drastically changed that night - our family's,
the other motorist, Katie's friends, and many people in our community who have written to Katie's Web site at http://www.katiesstory.com/. We
don't want another family to feel our pain or get that phone call that no one wants to get. You live the rest of your
life with an unrepairable hole in your heart.
Laura Marchetti of Valrico, FL
Click the envelope below to share Katies story
Safety
Belts and Teens
2003 Report (USDT) Teens have the highest
fatality rate in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group, for the following reasons:
- They frequently engage
in high-risk behaviors, such as speeding and/or driving after using alcohol or drugs.
- They are easily distracted.
- Most of all, they exihibit lower safety belt use rates than adults.
Because teens have an increased exposure to potentially fatal traffic crashes, it is
imperative that efforts to increase safety belt use among this age group be given the highest priority.
What can parents do? It's easy... TALK
TO YOUR TEEN about the following:
- DRINKING
- Data suggests teens will neglect to drink regularly, in addition to drinking and driving less. (SADD)
- DRIVING
BEHAVIORS - Teens will be less likely to speed (62%) than are teens whose parents do not discuss driving behaviors
(80%). (SADD)
Also...Most importantly:
- SPEND TIME WITH YOUR TEEN - studies
show, they will be more likely to wear seat belts than those who do not spend substantial time with their parents.
(SADD)
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