Force fields aren’t real, at least not yet. Cars are dangerous. So whether you’re in an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or you’re driving yourself, buckle your seatbelt.
Several friends of mine recently had their Ubers run into by other cars. Luckily, they were all wearing their seat belts and no one got seriously hurt. But if they weren’t, if they didn’t take those few seconds to buckle up, things could have been much worse. So I’m posting this because I don’t want that kind of tragedy to befall anyone else.
For some reason, lots of people don’t buckle up when they’re being transported by a professional driver. Perhaps it’s the belief that if someone spends that much time behind the wheel, they’ll be able to avoid accidents.
But really, it doesn’t matter. There will always be other idiots, drunks, and people texting on the road. No amount of driving skill will protect you from someone running a red light at full speed.
In some ways, our modern app-based car services are quite safe. GPS and a record of exactly who your driver is create accountability that can potentially deter wrongdoing.
Though at the same time, on-demand car service drivers frequently operate on streets they’re not familiar with. They could be distracted by their driver apps beeping about the next pickup or trying to use their navigation system. And some may be relatively new to driving itself.
So buckle up at the beginning of every ride. You’ll notice it’s actually more comfortable as you won’t get tossed around while weaving through traffic. Want to snuggle with your sweetheart? Strap one of you into the middle seat.
The CDC says seat belts reduce the likelihood of serious injuries or death in an accident by half. Do your loved ones a favor. Stay safe.