COLORADO — Yoda (probably) didn't say to wear your seatbelt, but the point still stands. Throughout this movie franchise, you will notice many prominent characters wearing some form of seatbelt or safety harness.

Jango Fett is shown wearing one in “Attack of the Clones,” with a young Boba Fett strapped in as well. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are seen wearing restraints in “Revenge of the Sith.” Din Djarin even takes the time to make sure he and Grogu are properly restrained in “The Mandalorian.”

What I’m trying to say is: it doesn't matter whether it's here on Earth or in a galaxy far, far away—a safety restraint is one of the most important and no-brainer things you can do when driving, especially for teenagers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data show that teenagers have the lowest seatbelt use of any age group. Now consider this, along with the fact that teen drivers in Colorado (ages 16-19) face a significantly higher crash risk, with fatal crash rates nearly three times higher than those of drivers 20 and older, driven by inexperience, distractions, and speeding.

Parents should know that what you do matters. Teens model their behavior after their parents, who are the primary influence on their decision-making. Being properly restrained reduces the risk of injury by 50% and death by up to 65%. Wouldn’t you want your child’s odds of making it home safely to be higher?

Most of us who love and adore the Star Wars franchise have grown up and have kids now. So take the time to teach them the importance of safe driving. As Obi-Wan Kenobi said to Luke Skywalker: “You’ve taken your first step into a larger world.” Make sure that the first step for your teenager's driving is always to secure with a seatbelt.