The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has introduced a national campaign aimed at parents of “tweens,” encouraging them to make sure that their children are wearing their seat belt.

The NHTSA says there are some unique challenges in getting children in this age group, which they define as ages 8 to 14, to consistently wear a seat belt. These factors include discomfort with the seat belt, distraction, or a false sense of security on short trips.

According to the NHTSA, most fatal accidents occur within 25 miles of the home and at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour. In the past five years, 1,552 children between the ages of 8 and 14 died in accidents involving cars, SUVs, and vans. Almost half of these children were not wearing their seat belt.

“Buckling up is an important habit to instill in children at a young age,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “As parents, we need to lead by example and reinforce the message to make sure it sticks. This campaign urges parents to never give up until their kids buckle up.”

In a recent series of focus groups, the NHTSA found that many parents do not rigorously enforce seat belt use on a number of common trips. These include bringing children to school or running short errands.

The NHTSA also determined that children are less likely to use their seat belts as they get older. Among the children who died in car accidents in the past five years, 13- and 14-year-olds made up the greatest percentage.

“Kids will always test the limits with their parents or caregivers, but there is no room for compromise when it comes to wearing a seat belt,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. “Sounding like a broken record can save your child’s life. Kids need constant reminders and this is one that can’t be skipped.”

The NHTSA says children are less likely to wear a seat belt if the parent driving the car decides not to wear one. The administration also says tweens are more likely to be distracted by eating, reading, using an electronic device, or other activities; in focusing on this activity, they might forget to put on their seat belt.

Tweens might complain that they find a seat belt to be uncomfortable, in which case they might not buckle up or improperly put the belt behind their backs or under their arms. They might also unbuckle the belt or use it improperly at night if they try to sleep during the trip.

The NHTSA says children should be able to use a seat belt comfortably. This means they should be able to sit straight against the back of the seat with their knees naturally bent over the edge and feet on the floor. The lap belt should fit snugly across the lap rather than the stomach, while the shoulder belt should stretch across the shoulders and chest rather than the neck or face.

If a child cannot comfortably use a seat belt in this way, they should continue to use a booster seat. The NHTSA says a booster seat should be used until the child outgrows its size limitations or is big enough to comfortably use the seat belt. Seat belts vary from vehicle to vehicle, so a booster seat may be necessary in some vehicles and not others.

The NHTSA recommends that parents consistently wear their own seat belt and not begin driving until all children and other occupants are buckled up. Parents should also periodically check to make sure their children have not unbuckled their seat belt or rearranged it so it won’t be effective.

For more information on the campaign, visit safercar.gov/kidsbuckleup.