Optimizing the safety of teen drivers

Chevrolet’s industry-first Buckle to Drive feature reminds teen drivers to buckle up.

Chevrolet Canada has introduced an industry-first Buckle to Drive feature that can help remind young drivers to buckle up before driving.

Buckle to Drive is standard in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, and when active can prevent the driver from shifting the vehicle out of park if the driver’s seat belt is not buckled.

Buckling your seat belt can reduce the chances of death in a collision by 47 per cent and the chances of serious injury by 52 per cent (Government of Canada).

“Buckle to Drive is Chevrolet’s latest feature designed to encourage young drivers to develop safe driving habits right from the start,” said Laura Pacey, brand director, Chevrolet. “Buckle to Drive is embedded in Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system and is aimed at helping remind teens to buckle up every time they get behind the wheel.”

Because Chevrolet is concerned about the risks of not buckling up, it has conducted extensive research. The Buckle to Drive feature in Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system was based on a recent internal pilot study of a similar feature that Chevrolet offered to select fleet customers. In fact, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that the feature increased the seat belt use of adults who occasionally use a seat belt by 16 percent compared to the standard audible chime seat belt reminder in a similar Chevrolet vehicle.

How Buckle to Drive Works ?

• The Buckle to Drive feature is available only when the vehicle is in Teen Driver mode.
• If the vehicle is on and the driver’s seat belt is not buckled, the feature is designed to not allow the driver to shift out of park for up to 20 seconds. When the brake pedal is pressed, the driver will hear an audible alert and see a message in the driver information centre that reads “Buckle seat belt to shift.”
• Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system with the Buckle to Drive feature will be standard on the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, Malibu and Colorado, all arriving this summer.