You Can’t Expect Everyone to Drive Safe.

March 11, 2026 // 10

Think about a dangerous driver. What are they doing? Are they flying past you on the interstate? Cruising down the street while staring straight down at their phone? Should they probably (definitely) have gotten a ride home from the bar?

No matter who you’re thinking of, I bet you weren’t picturing yourself. But here’s the thing. Even if you do everything right, you still have to share the road with everyone else.

And that’s where seat belts come in.

Do you wear your seat belt?

You Can’t Control Them. But You Can Protect You.

Crashes usually happen because of a small mistake. Someone looks away, stops quicker than expected, doesn’t notice the car turning into their lane… anything can happen. And when it does, wearing your seat belt is the #1 way to make sure you make it out okay.

The Numbers Don’t Lie. Seat Belts Save Lives.

  • South Dakota consistently ranks among the states with the least seat belt usage, with 86% in 2025 (SD DPS)
  • 46% of South Dakota students said they don’t always wear a seat belt (2023 SD YRBS)
  • 59% of people killed in crashes in South Dakota in 2025 weren’t wearing a seat belt (SD DPS)
  • Seat belts save about 15,000 lives each year across the U.S. (NHTSA)

Setting the Record Straight

Myths and urban legends have given seat belts a bad rap. A lot of people think that seat belts don’t make much difference or can even make a crash more dangerous. But the truth couldn’t be simpler. No matter what you’re driving, how fast you’re going or what happens in a crash, wearing a seat belt is always safer than not wearing one.

Let’s clear up a few misconceptions you might have heard.

Heavy cars & trucks

Seat belts actually reduce your risk of injury or death more in trucks than in lighter cars.

Being “thrown clear”

The inside of your car is the safest place to be during a crash. Being ejected drastically increases your chance of being seriously or fatally injured.

LOW-SPEED DRIVING

Believe it or not, most fatal crashes happen close to home and at speeds under 40 mph. Buckle up — every trip, every time.

Aren’t air bags safer?

Air bags definitely help, but you’re actually safer with a seat belt and no air bags than you are the other way around.

It Starts with You

The best way to stay safe is to control the things you can. You can’t predict what other drivers will do. But you can make sure you’re protected if something goes wrong.

Buckle up. Every seat, every trip, every time.