Join NHTSA's Twitter Chat to spread the word about Tweens and seat belts - March 12

Parenting a tween involves compromise. But here’s one rule that’s not up for debate – the car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. If you say it, and if parents buckle up themselves, your tween will buckle up. And if they don’t, that’s a fight worth having. It might just save your tween’s life.

Over the past 5 years, 1,609 kids ages 8-14 were not wearing seat belts when they died in a crash - one in four were age 14. As children get older they’re less likely to buckle up. Our “Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” campaign aims to put an end to this trend – but NHTSA needs your help.

On March 12, NHTSA will hold a Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up Twitter Chat to help spread the word to parents about the need to wear seat belts. During the chat you can question NHTSA experts, engage with your followers, and help ensure that tweens grow up to become young adults and safe drivers. We’ll also have terrific videos, banners, and other tools you can use to spread this lifesaving message far and wide.

Who: NHTSA and Our Team of Experts

What: Tween “Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” Twitter Chat (follow along at #kidsbuckleup  and #tweens)

When: Thursday, March 12, 3-4pm Eastern

Where: www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov

How: Use hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens when the chat is about to start to join in the conversation. Feel free to mention @NHTSAGov in any of your tweets and NHTSA will get back to as many of your questions or comments as they can! Remember to include the hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens in your comments so others can follow the conversation.

 Let your friends  know the dangers of failing to wear a seat belt and that parents are an essential part of protecting their kids by insisting on seat belt use at all times and by sending the right message by always wearing seat belts themselves