COLORADO — When talking about “lockdown defenders” in Colorado Broncos history, you may think immediately of players like Von Miller, Champ Bailey, Patrick Surtain II, Chris Harris Jr., or Randy Gradishar, and Karl Mecklenburg for the older generations.

But the one “lockdown defender” that you may overlook, and can save your family's life? The seatbelt.

First installed in motor vehicles in 1958, the seatbelt has taken many forms and undergone many modernizations; however, its impact has not changed. Seatbelts are the single most effective safety technology in the history of automobiles.

Being properly restrained reduces your risk of injury by 50% and death by up to 65%, with only 1% of passengers wearing a seatbelt being ejected from the car during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 375,000 lives have been saved by seatbelt use since 1975. 

According to CDOT, Colorado's statewide seat belt usage rate reached a record high of 90.7% last year. However, we still remain below the national average of 91.2%. Troopers know that seat belt use rates remain lowest among Colorado’s teen drivers, rural county residents, and truck drivers year over year.

The data shows that as children get older, they are less likely to buckle up.

The #1 influence on a child is their parents. Kids model their parents' behavior, so if you want your child to have the opportunity to achieve their dreams, protect them by speaking with them and, most importantly, showing them the importance of a seatbelt.