National Seat Belt Day
Buckle-to-drive function
The 2024 and 2025 models sold by GM are equipped with a “Buckle to Drive” feature that prevents the vehicle from shifting into Drive unless the passenger is fastening their seat belt.
Modern cars are packed with sophisticated, high-tech safety and driver-assistance features designed to protect against or avoid collisions, but wearing a three-point seat belt remains a simple, yet perhaps most effective and important, safety measure for drivers and passengers.
Of course, seat belts only work if you use them. That’s why General Motors (GM) has created a feature that reminds drivers and passengers to fasten their seat belts every time they get in a car. Regina Kalt, GM’s vice president of Global Product Safety, Systems and Certification, explains the effectiveness of seat belts as follows:
“Seatbelts are the most important piece of safety equipment. They can mean the difference between life and death. With just one click, they can save your life.”
“Buckle to Drive” is a standard feature on most GM models for 2024 and 2025. In many models, if there is a front-seat passenger, the driver cannot shift from “P” to “D” range unless the passenger has their seatbelt fastened.
“Buckle to Drive encourages passengers to buckle up naturally, without even thinking about it, because it encourages a habitual behavior,” Kalt points out.
Buckle to Drive also works with GM’s Teen Driver feature, which allows parents to designate one vehicle key to activate this safety feature designed to protect young drivers. In many GM vehicles, Buckle to Drive is automatically enabled when Teen Driver is activated.
Rear seat belt reminder
The Rear Seatbelt Reminder displays a seatbelt icon on the meter to indicate whether rear seat passengers have their seatbelts fastened or not.
Seat belts are extremely important for rear seat passengers, but many people forget to fasten their seat belts when getting into the back seat. The Rear Seat Belt Reminder, which is installed in many GM vehicles, displays a seat belt icon on the instrument panel to indicate whether rear seat passengers are fastening their seat belts or not.
If a rear passenger unbuckles their seatbelt while you’re driving, a red “X” icon will appear on the display and a safety chime will sound inside the vehicle. It’s a simple but powerful tool that can help ensure everyone is fastening their seatbelt. “No matter where your passenger is in the car, we can determine if they’re wearing their seatbelt,” explains Kalt.
Seat belts, which may seem unassuming at first glance, do not perform a safety function on their own; they are team players that help the airbags do their job. However, when the two functions work together, they can reliably protect the lives of passengers. Finally, Kalt made the following appeal to drivers and passengers:
“If your seat belt is not positioned properly, it is less likely that your airbag will protect you. If you are properly belted, you have the best chance of survival. I enjoy working on safety features. We are in the business of serving humanity, and I am incredibly proud of the team for making meaningful progress towards zero accidents.”
“I have a son who is an orthopedic surgeon. He has seen many victims of traffic accidents, and he says he can tell from the severity of injuries whether a person was wearing a seat belt or not. He told me, ‘Mom, just wearing a seat belt can make such a big difference in the damage…'”
