Recently four teenagers enrolled in a local high school were involved in a single car wreck after leaving the Mississippi State football game. All four of the teens were ejected from the vehicle when the driver ran off Highway 82 East and flipped multiple times.

The female involved in the accident was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Two males were airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center and one was transferred from Baptist Memorial Golden Triangle Hospital to North Mississippi Medical Center as well. None of the passengers were wearing a seat belt during the accident. The accident is still under investigation.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in people of ages 1 – 54 in the U.S. Wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to keep one safe in an accident. However, a large number of people choose to ignore the statistics. The majority of those who choose to risk their lives by not wearing a seat belt are teenagers. Over 50% of teens and adults that were involved in a car crash in 2014 were not wearing a seat belt.

By not wearing a seatbelt you are not only endangering your life, but also the other passengers in the vehicle. Accidents often happen quickly and unexpectedly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 15,000 lives are saved each year in the U.S. because passengers were wearing seat belts. The risk factors of not wearing a seat belt should encourage those behind the wheel or in a motor vehicle to always wear a seat belt.