DETROIT: Chevrolet 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.

Buckle to Drive is only available through the vehicle’s Teen Driver mode and builds upon Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system, introduced in 2015, as another step to help teen drivers stay safe on the road.



Buckling your seat belt is the number one action drivers can take to protect themselves in a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Tragically, teens have among the lowest rates of seat belt use. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes are unbuckled.

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.

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