Blog / Safe driving

4 Reasons You Need to Buckle Up When You Go for a Drive

July 19, 2019 · 3 min read

A young man buckling his seatbelt in Wichita, KS

It can be easy to forget how important it is to wear a seat belt. Here are some reasons why it's important that you and your family are strapped in safely.

1. In An Accident, Seat Belts Help Keep You In The Car

If a person is not strapped in, it is possible that he or she can be pushed out of the car through the front, rear, or side windows. There is a rumor that in the event of an accident, it is safer to be pushed out of the car, but this isn't true. If a person is thrown out of the car, the chance of mortality is four times greater.

This is also true if a car rolls over. In that case, chances of survival increase by about 45% when a person wears a belt and up to 60% if the car is a pickup truck.

2. Seat Belts Can Keep Your Body Protected

A seat belt protects your vital organs, including your brain and spinal cord. Brain and spinal cord injuries can be extremely serious and wearing a seat belt keeps these body parts secure.

In addition, a seat belt protects your body by spreading out the impact of a collision. It also keeps your head and neck at a distance from the steering wheel and dashboard. If a person experiences sudden impact or change of speed, a seat belt can restrain them and help prevent impact by slowing down the body's reaction.

3. Technology Is Not Enough

People might feel that new technologies can protect them. This is incorrect. No element protects as much as a seat belt. Airbags are helpful when used in addition to a seat belt, but the seat belt is still needed for the body to stay in alignment with the bag.

Also, driving a powerful vehicle like a pickup truck is not a substitute for wearing a belt. It has been reported that in the U.S., 467 people passed away when driving pickup trucks in 2015 and of that number, 216 people were not wearing belts.

Similarly, driver safety mechanisms, cameras, and lane departure and assist technologies can help with awareness, but they are not directly life-preserving. Wearing a seat belt is.

4. Statistics Prove Seat Belts Save Lives

Statistics clearly prove that wearing a seat belt can be the difference between life and death, more so than any reasonable precaution you can take on the road. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that seat belts cut the possibility of injury and death by around 50%, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in the U.S. over 15,000 people have their lives saved annually due to having worn their belt. The administration also states that between 2010 and 2014, about 63,000 lives were saved in accidents due to wearing a belt.

The next time you are driving with friends or family, be sure to remind them of these reasons why it is still important to buckle our belts. Take care of yourself and others with a simple click.

Image via Flickr by State Farm

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An open book sitting on a table with bookshelves in the background at a local bookstore in Wichita,KS

Dec 27, 2019 in Bookstores in Wichita

Find Your Next Read at A Wichita Bookstore

Looking for some new additions to your book collection? Whether you’re a collector or just searching for your next good book, find it at a local Wichita bookstore. Here are five places to find the perfect book. more Watermark Books & Cafe For a truly local bookstore experience, be sure to visit Watermark Books and Cafe on East Douglas Ave. Open six days a week and closed on Sunday, the store offers a variety of books across many genres. With an excellent children's section, the store hosts many storytimes and author signing events to help encourage young readers. In addition, the bookstore publishes newsletters for kids, teachers, new releases, and seasoned readers. With a big focus on local and regional authors, you can find some Wichita gems at Watermark. The bookstore's cafe offers soups and a variety of pastries to enjoy with your book. F.C. Ziegler Co. Also located on East Douglas Ave., F.C. Ziegler Company is a small Catholic bookstore chain. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, they carry prayer books, devotionals, bibles, and gift items. You can find history books and commemorative edition books to celebrate special occasions such as baptisms and weddings. Book-a-holic Book-a-holic is a wonderful independent used bookstore. With three locations in Wichita, all three are open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store allows you to buy, sell, or trade for your next great read in any genre from cooking to science-fiction and everything in between. Barnes & Noble Are you ready to explore a store with something for everyone? Stop by Barnes and Noble on North Rock Road. Free WiFi means you can escape the daily grind to study or work while enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the on-site cafe. You can also relax and disconnect in many of the welcoming seating areas located throughout the store. With weekly storytimes (featuring free cafe items and giveaways for the kids), author events, book release parties, Barnes & Noble is a great weekly stop for the kids. In addition to their events and extensive periodical inventory, you can pick up special orders in-store. Al's Old & New Book Store LLC If you are looking for a new copy of an old book, head over to Al's Old and New Book Store on East William Street. The store focuses on carrying older titles that are hard to find in other locations, including classics and a variety of history books. If you are looking for a treasured book from years ago, ask them to show you the special research tools they have to help cut down your search time. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to explore their more than 40,000 book inventory. With so many options, it will be fun and easy to find your next read at one of these Wichita bookstores. Make it a weekly after-school field trip with the kids or make it a date night stop to sip a cup of coffee and browse the extensive book selections at your favorite store. Image via Pixabay by geralt

An orange 2019 Jeep Renegade driving through a creek near Wichita, KS

Dec 13, 2019 in 2019 Jeep Renegade

Here's What You Need to Know About the 2019 Jeep Renegade

A subcompact SUV, the 2019 Jeep Renegade is a powerful off-roading vehicle that delivers a strong ride. Originally introduced in 2015, the Renegade now features six trims — Sport, Latitude, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude. As Jeep's smallest SUV, the Renegade includes several features that set this vehicle apart from others in its class, including a new engine as well as a handful of interior and safety upgrades. more Performance There are two engine options available with the 2019 Jeep Renegade. The base 2.4-liter, 180-horsepower engine produces 175 pound-feet of torque and works well, but if you're looking for more power, consider the 1.3-liter 177-horsepower turbo-four engine that produces 200 pound-feet of torque. The latter engine is new for 2019 and comes standard on the Limited, Trailhawk, and High Altitude trims. Both engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and Latitude trims, while all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Also, when properly equipped, the Renegade can tow up to 2,000 pounds. Entertainment Features To keep you and your passengers entertained, the Renegade has plenty of technology features. It now comes standard with a 5-inch touch-screen display and Bluetooth capabilities. Previous standard features remain, and these include a six-speaker audio system and USB port. The vehicle also offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities as well as an upgraded and user-friendly Uconnect system with either a 7- or 8.4-inch touch-screen display, satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Beats audio system. Fuel Economy With the base engine and all-wheel drive, the Renegade attains 22 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. For the turbo-four engine along with front-wheel drive, numbers increase to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Cabin Space Unlike other subcompact SUVs, the 2019 Jeep Renegade provides ample headroom and legroom for both rows. The driver benefits from superb front and rear visibility thanks to a high seating position. You can upgrade to receive a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat. When it comes to cargo space, the Renegade holds 18.5 cubic feet of space, and if you fold down the seats, you gain 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Safety Features The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Jeep Renegade with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover tests. Although it only comes standard with a rearview camera, the vehicle has numerous upgrades available. You can opt for a forward-collision warning, front and rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. Also, the vehicle offers two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on its outboard rear seats and a tether anchor in the middle seat. The 2019 Jeep Renegade is a smart choice if you're looking for a well-equipped and powerful vehicle. For more information about the Renegade or to schedule a test drive, reach out to the experts at Davis-Moore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. They can help you determine which trim works best for your needs so you can drive off in this vehicle today. Image via Jeep.com

A white 2020 Dodge Durango parked on pavement in Wichita, KS

Dec 20, 2019 in 2020 Dodge Durango

All You Need to Know About the 2020 Dodge Durango

Are you looking for a midsize SUV that brings style and practicality? Whether you're taking your turn in the school carpool line or heading out for a family vacation, this SUV meets all the marks. Here's all you need to know about the 2020 Dodge Durango. more Power-Driven With three engine options under the hood of the 2020 Dodge Durango, you're sure to find the right power package for your needs. The entry-level 3.6-liter V-6, 295-horsepower engine powers the SXT, SXT Plus, GT, GT Plus, Citadel, and Citadel Adonized Platinum trim levels. When you upgrade to the 5.7 liter V-8, power increases to 360 horsepower in the R/T. The performance-enhanced Durango SRT comes equipped with a powerful 6.4-liter, 475 horsepower V-8 engine. Towing-Capable The Durango gives you enough power to haul outdoor toys and gear for camping and vacationing. Beginning with a tow-capacity of 6,200 pounds, the V-6 hauls most toys, kids, gear. If you need a power boost, go for the V-8 engine that adds 1,100 pounds of tow capacity to your adventure-seeking ride. At the top end of the towing capacity, a Durango with the proper equipment handles 8,700 pounds. This means you can easily haul your boat and other large outdoor items. Use the included trailer sway control, while you are towing to keep your load and your vehicle safe on the road. The sway control alternates brake pressure between the wheels to give you more control regardless of the road conditions. Room for Everyone and Everything Seven adults comfortably fit in this truck over three rows of seating. The first two rows come with standard bucket seats and a bench in the back. Thanks to the flexibility and folding seats, you have several options when it comes to seating and cargo space. The bench seat has a 60/40 fold in it so you can keep half of it and lower the other half for longer items. The second-row seats fold and tumble for easier entry and exit from the third row. If you fold down the second and third-row seats, you'll have a total of 84.5 cubic feet of space. When you have all three rows of seats up, the interior holds 47.7 cubic feet of cargo. Technology-Equipped As soon as you step into this SUV, you'll notice technology surrounds you. For the driver, a digital cluster display gives you essential information, such as your speed and gas mileage. It also displays what type of audio source you are using and any safety alerts. Everyone enjoys the Uconnect infotainment system that is compatible with both Apple and Android smart devices. Connect your device for access to your music library and phone GPS apps as well as hands-free calling while you are on the road. For more fun, add the available dual-screen Blu-Ray entertainment system. It fits into the back of the front row seats so your crew can enjoy movies and shows while traveling. Do you find yourself planning your next road trip in the 2020 Dodge Durango? Stop by Davis-Moore Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today. Our friendly staff looks forward to helping you find the perfect Durango for your family. Image via Dodge.com

*New Car MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. New Car All In Price includes the manufacturer's destination charge, dealer discounts and/or factory rebate(s), dealer administration fee and any dealer added accessories that are currently installed on the vehicle. Additional discounts may be available on the New Car Internet Price, contact the internet representative for details. Used car All In Price includes the dealer administration fee. Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, all information, and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, license. EPA Estimated MPG is shown is based on EPA estimates, actual mileage may vary. Please verify all information with Davis-Moore.