Politics & Government
Quincy Teen Honored By Hingham Police For Seat Belt Use
Brendan Wright, 17, recognized by Hingham Police for buckling up
Driver safety is always a primary concern for any vehicle manufacturer but the difference between life and death in the event of an accident can be as simple as making sure that the seatbelt is fastened every time you get behind the wheel.
Brendan Wright, aged 17 from Quincy, was involved in a three-vehicle accident on Whiting Street on June 21, but was unharmed because he used a seat belt. On Tuesday night in front of the Selectmen he was honored for being “living proof that seatbelts save lives.”
Hingham Police Chief Michael Peraino presented Wright with a “Saved By The Belt” plaque to acknowledge the teenager’s escape from a potentially life-threatening crash a month after the high school student had received his license.
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After investigating the incident at the time, Hingham officer Jeffrey Kilroy had nominated Wright for the award saying that “the driver’s proper use of a seat belt, combined with air bag deployment prevented the driver from receiving serious head injuries and prevented a probable ejection.”
Wright was grateful to Hingham Police for this recognition of driver safety and was “happy to be an example of the importance of wearing a seatbelt.”
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“Ever since I can remember, my Mom always told me to wear a seatbelt every time I got in the car and it’s always been second nature to me,” Wright said. “You don’t realize how important it is until a police officer tells you that a small piece of nylon is the difference between life and death.”
Peraino was honored to present the award to the Quincy teen.
“We’re happy to say that because he was wearing a seatbelt, he didn’t get a scratch,” Peraino said. “You have set a strong example in the importance of buckling up and a role model for people of your age group.”
The Saved By The Belt Program has been in operation in Hingham since June and is based on a successful model used by other states to increase seat belt use. The award is a part of a continued goal by Hingham Police to target driver awareness and vehicle safety.
