Have you heard about the Hannah Montana controversy?

Consumer Reports is frowning on teen queen, Miley Cyrus, her famous Dad, Billy Ray for not wearing their seat belts while riding in the back seat of a Range Rover in her Disney blockbuster 3-D movie, “Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour.”

Why should we care?  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in about 55 percent of passenger vehicle fatalities in 2006 (the latest data available), the occupants were not wearing seat belts.  Even worse, in the 13- to 15-year-old age group, that percentage climbs to 65 percent.  In addition, a 2002 survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed nearly 50% of teens do not wear their seat belts when their parents drop them off at school. 

Is it Miley and Billy Ray’s responsibility to change this statistic?  Not necessarily, but I think many parents would agree she is a role-model to a lot of her fans.  The fact that she has apologized about not wearing her seat belt, calling it an oversight, is helpful.  To her teen supporters, if Hannah Montana wears her seat belt, it must be cool. 

The point is, actions speak louder than words.  Parents telling their kids to buckle-up while not wearing their own seatbelts send a powerful and dangerous message.  Just last week, I attended Hillsborough County’s Battle of the Belts Award Ceremony, where the goal is to get teens to encourage their peers to click-it.  I spoke with Laura Marchetti, whose daughter Katie was killed in a car crash while not wearing her seat belt, and she can not stress the value of seat belts enough.

In my opinion, the fact we are talking about this issue is great.  We need more attention to these stories, especially from someone so famous among young people as Hannah Montana.
Safe travels,

Alicia