Hey there! I just wanted to have a quick heart-to-heart with you about something important – wearing a seatbelt. You know, that thing that's often just an afterthought as you hop into your car? Well, it's time we gave it the attention it deserves.

Picture cruising down the highway, belting out your favorite tunes, and suddenly - bam! - an unexpected swerve or stop. In that split second, your seatbelt becomes your best friend. It's not just a strip of fabric but a lifesaver, literally! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelts saved nearly 15,000 lives in 2017 alone. Pretty impressive, right?

But, hold on a minute, you might be thinking, "I'm a safe driver. Do I really need to buckle up?" Here's the thing, even the best drivers can't predict the unpredictable. An animal darting across the road, a sudden weather change, or another driver's mistake - these are all beyond your control. Your seatbelt is like your superhero, ready to swoop in and protect you when things go south.

Now, I hear you. Seatbelts can sometimes feel restrictive. But hey, guess what? In Idaho, there are a few exceptions to the seatbelt law. 

Photo by Sam Rudkin-Millichamp on Unsplash
Photo by Sam Rudkin-Millichamp on Unsplash
loading...

Exemptions from the mandatory seatbelt use include:

  • If you're delivering newspapers or mail. 
  • Motorcycle drivers
  • Emergency vehicle operators
  • People with documented medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a seatbelt. 

However, these exemptions should never be an excuse to compromise safety.

So, next time you get in the car, remember that buckling up isn't just about following the rules. It's about valuing your life. Let's make every journey a safe one. After all, wouldn't you rather arrive safe than not at all? Buckle up, Idaho!

You can find out more here. 

10 Bad Driving Habits That Could Get You in Trouble With the Police in Idaho

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli

 

More From 104.3 Wow Country