In 2004, 58 percent of occupants of passenger vehicles and light trucks, age 16 to 20, who were killed in crashes were not buckled up, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Teenagers are less likely to wear safety belts even when their parents do, according to a survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released in June 2002. The report found 46 percent of teenagers who were dropped off at school by parents were not wearing safety belts. And in eight percent of cases, teens were using safety belts, while the adult driver was not.

The survey, conducted at 12 high schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts, focused on four groups: teen drivers, teen passengers in vehicles with teen drivers, teen passengers with adult drivers and adult drivers.

The survey also found that belt use differed based on gender and age. Belt use was lower among male teen drivers than male adults, while the difference between female teen drivers and female adult drivers was negligible. Teenage passenger belt use was much lower for both males and females than adults.

Only 50 percent of males and 56 percent of females riding with adult drivers were buckled up in the morning going to school. In addition, the study revealed that when a teenage driver was behind the wheel, the use among teen passengers fell to 42 percent among males and 52 percent among females. To increase seat belt use among teens, the IIHS suggests adding belt use provisions to graduated licensing systems.

Information provided by Insurance Information Institute (III).