New seat belt reminder sign

Seat belt reminder sign at the exit of the SHS student parking lot

A new sign has been installed at the exit of the student lot at Somerville High School.

To get more students to buckle up, the Vincent R. Gagliardi Foundation installed a new seat belt reminder sign at the exit of the student parking lot of Somerville High School.

New Jersey’s observed seat belt usage rate was 92.9% in 2023, which is slightly above the nationwide average use rate of 90.3% as measured by the NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey.   This is encouraging, but seat belt use is lowest among teen drivers, despite always having seat belts in cars during their lifetime.  Compared to other age groups, teens consistently have some of the lowest rates of seat belt use.  The VRG Foundation is striving to make teen seat belt use 100% to help avoid preventable tragedies.

Why seat belt usage is important

• Seat belts are mandatory in New Jersey.

• Seat belts work with airbags to provide maximum protection in a crash; airbags alone are not enough.

• Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in New Jersey and the U.S.. 

Please, buckle up, every ride, every time.