Celebrate National Seat Belt Day: A Simple Click That Saves Lives
National Seat Belt Day honors one of the most significant safety innovations in automotive history—the three-point safety belt. While modern vehicles boast cutting-edge safety and driver-assistance technologies, buckling your seat belt remains the simplest, most effective way to protect yourself on the road.
“The seat belt is the most essential safety feature we have,” says Regina Carto, Vice President of Global Product Safety, Systems, and Certification at General Motors (GM). “It can be the difference between life and death. It’s just a click, but it can save your life.”
Making Buckling Up a Habit
A seat belt only works if it’s used. To encourage consistent seat belt usage, GM offers innovative features like Buckle to Drive, standard on most 2024 and 2025 models. This system prevents the driver from shifting out of Park for 20 seconds—or until their seat belt is fastened. In many models, front-seat passengers must also buckle up before the vehicle can be shifted out of Park.
“Buckle to Drive helps make seat belt usage second nature,” says Carto. “It builds a habit so ingrained that you don’t even think about it.”
This feature pairs seamlessly with GM’s Teen Driver technology, allowing parents to activate safety measures with a designated vehicle key. When Teen Driver is enabled, Buckle to Drive automatically turns on, promoting safe driving habits for young drivers.
Safety for Every Seat
Rear-seat passengers often overlook buckling up, but their safety is just as crucial. GM’s Rear Seat Belt Reminder helps ensure everyone in the vehicle is secured. Available on many GM models, this feature uses icons on the instrument cluster to display which rear-seat passengers are buckled, including those in the third row. If a passenger unbuckles while the vehicle is in motion, the system sounds a safety chime and displays a red X icon.
“No matter where occupants are seated, you can easily confirm whether they’re wearing their seat belts,” says Carto.
A Team Effort for Maximum Protection
The seat belt isn’t just a standalone safety feature—it works in tandem with airbags. “If you’re not properly positioned in the seat, airbags have a harder time protecting you,” Carto explains. “You have the best chance for survival when you’re properly belted.”
A Mission to Save Lives
For Carto, safety innovation is a deeply meaningful mission. “What I love about safety is that it benefits humanity,” she says. “I’m incredibly proud of our team’s work toward achieving zero crashes.”
Her commitment to safety resonates personally—her son, a resident orthopedic surgeon, frequently sees the devastating impact of car crashes. “He can often tell if someone was wearing a seat belt just by their injuries,” Carto shares. “He told me, ‘Mom, it makes such a difference.’”
On National Seat Belt Day, let’s remember that a simple click can save lives. Buckle up—every ride, every time.
