Readers react to Hannah Montana seat belt flap—and so does Miley's family

We are overwhelmed by your response to our blog posting about Hannah Montana, the alter ego of Miley Cyrus, and want to thank everyone who contributed to the broad range of comments we received. It seems that our attempt to raise awareness about the importance of rear seat belts has raised the ire of many Hannah Montana fans. 

First, we want to make it clear that we are not anti-Hannah. In fact, some of us are big fans—and more important, my two daughters would not speak to me if they thought we were unfairly criticizing their idol. It's precisely because we understand the positive impact that someone like Hannah Montana can have that we are emphasizing the importance of such role models promoting safety. As an organization that tries to help consumers understand and manage their risks we consider it our responsibility.

And this isn't the first time we've taken public figures to task on this issue.  Last year, we pointed out that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine wasn't wearing a seat belt when he was severely injured in an accident. Corzine later made a public service announcement promoting seat belt use.

Many of you felt that we were making a big deal out of a movie.  But the reality is that movies and television shows do influence how kids, and adults, act in everyday life. Producers, directors and actors can influence public behavior through their movies and television shows—and they can make a difference. Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley's celebrity father, so much as acknowledged that today when he issued an apology published on People Online.  "We got caught up in the moment of filming, and we made a mistake and forgot to buckle our seat belts," Cyrus told People. "Seatbelt safety is extremely important." We applaud the Cyrus family for being proactive and for recognizing that wearing seat belts in rear seats is essential.

We are concerned that some comments on our blog promote a misconception that rear seat passengers don’t need safety belts. Simply put, not wearing seat belts while riding in the rear seat of a vehicle is dangerous. According to 2006 data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 58.2 percent of all rear seat fatalities involved passengers who were not wearing seat belts, compared to 32.7 percent of fatalities for rear seat passengers who were wearing seat belts. Failing to buckle up is dangerous not only to the rear seat passengers, but to other passengers in the vehicle. Unbelted passengers in a rear seat can become projectiles in a crash, potentially striking and killing front seat passengers.

In the U.S., many states have laws requiring seat belt use for all passengers.  Penalties can be as high as $200 or points on your license.

If you plan to see the Hannah Montana movie, we hope that when you get in your car to drive to the theater you take the suggestion of some of your fellow readers and take advantage of that "teaching moment" to make sure you and everyone in your vehicle is buckled up.  And then go enjoy the movie like I did with my daughters. —Don Mays

More on back seat belting
Seat belt use is an issue in other countries as well. To underscore the dangers of not wearing rear seat belts, the United Kingdom has produced a public service spot, originally broadcast in prime time, that we want to share with you.  But be forewarned before you click on this link that the material in the video is very graphic and disturbing.

Comments

[Susan R.]

I know that this blog is months old now, but I need to post somewhere that the Cyruses did it again! I watched Idol Gives Back last night with my 9- and 6-year-olds and (again) saw Miley and Billy Ray being driven around while not wearing their seatbelts.

Was that my imagination or did others see it too? And if others saw it too, it's time to bring it up again. No matter how famous you are, not wearing a seatbelt is the wrong choice.

[katrina]

No matter what everyone says good for you for promoting seat belt use. Ignorance is inevitable with more than half of those posts. I agree 100% with you. I think that an apology was not necessary and if people would not be ignorant and use common sense and actually valued their life and their childrens' they would not need to post such vindictive comments. I'm a teen driver and I wear my seatbelt ant all the kids I know wear their seatbelts. It's the adults that need to step back and put their seatbelts on. They are the examples here. Parents take responsiblity for your kids. This is ridiculous when you are driving look around at who is wearing theirs and who isn't chances are, it's an adult, more than once. If a child isn't strapped in it's because the adult who is driving is an ignorant human being whose child shouldn't really be in their custody anyway. Ever heard of child endangerment? Anyways, good for you I'm so glad you brought up the issue and I strongly think the apology was not needed.

[j mercier]

people are so weird when it comes to celebrities that they like. they defend them MORE than they would defend their own family members. i guess thats a pretty telling indication as to where this country is going.
one thing that no one has mentioned in either article posted in the media on this issue.
THIS FILM ISNT BEING MARKETED AS FICTION, ITS BEING MARKETED AS A DOCUMENTARY OF THE MILEY CYRUS TOUR!
cyrus was right to apologize. he and his daughter were very likely breaking the law. do you parents who are defending miley and her father really want your children to grow up with no obligation to follow the laws? great role model.
like i said before, this 'outrage' is just another sign of the deteriorating morality of this country.

[Pat]

Seat belts aren't always as protected as people can be.

No movie should have anyone in a car without a helmet and firesuit at a minimum. The cars should be outfitted with roll cages and five point safety harnesses. Too much? We're talking about setting an example here.

As for the driving, people just shouldn't travel at over the speed of a horse anyway, it's unnatural. Squealing tires and high acceleration are also inconsiderate of our global energy needs.

Then we can start dealing with the use of appliances in movies and television. What sort of reckless individual uses an iron or any electrical appliance without a faceshield, rubber glove, and a rubber floormat anyway?

[Marianne]

I agree 100% that everyone in a vehicle should wear a seatbelt. I think your big concern should be with school buses. I have never read a consumer report which detailed how many school bus accidents would have had less injuries if a child was wearing a seatbelt. We worry about what goes on in a movie which if you look closely at movies when a vehicle is being filmed it has a number of people around it and unless it is a speed film they are not going the normal speed limit. I don't even think that any child that saw the Hannah Montana movie would come away from it with the thought that "hey I am not going to wear my seatbelt". I know just from my nieces they didn't even notice it. I think our big concern should be with the yellow bus that picks our children up each day in which we have no control over what happens when they leave our front door. If you look at school bus accidents when they have a collison most of the buses either roll or flip on their side which without a seatbelt would cause the child to be thrown within the bus.
Next time you get so concerned about what goes on in a movie, maybe you should take a look at what goes on in the real world.

[JM Jacob]

Thank you CR for publishing your post. Continue to take public figures to task over this, especially role models for kids.

This is a blog on safety, what do these childish commenters expect?

[Karen Dunn]

I'm appalled that so many young folks have missed the point Consumer Reports was trying to make! The Cyrus family obviously understands the importance of seatbelts and readily admitted their mistake. And acknowledged their responsibility as role models.
When my kids were younger and I had a minivan full of preteens, the tires did not start rolling until everyone had fastened their seatbelts. It should be just that simple.

[Wendy]

I don't believe that all the comments you received were because you "raised the ire of many Hannah Montana fans." Rather, you received the landslide of comments because we, the general public, are very tired of the media nit-picking every move celebrities make and criticizing them. You focused on the wrong thing when Miley and her dad were sitting in the back seat. What I noticed was how touching it was to have a 14 year old girl want to snuggle with her dad and be close with her dad. The fact that Miley and Billy Ray had to apologize for this scene is ridiculous. It's no wonder that celebrities often end up acting in ways that seem outrageous and unacceptable. They just can't win - especially if they are going to get blasted for something so ridiculous as not wearing a seatbelt in 30 seconds of a movie. I hope your daughters never choose to snuggle with their dads at a moment when they should be thinking about safety first. Stick to the business of reporting on consumer issues rather than consuming celebrities.

[Carl]

Thank you for providing a link to the UK public safety spot promoting seat belt usage, which I think is very important. However, in addition to warning your readers of the graphic nature of the video, you may want to also warn them of the explicit (albeit censored) language appearing on the links from that particular video.

[Jennifer]

Thank you, Consumer Reports for saying "sorry". What you did was wrong. You can't go out there and criticize people like that. Nbbody is perfect-and I bet that there was MANY times where you forgot to buckle up. It happens.

[John Hoagland]

Regarding the Cyrus seatbelt "flap" - I am concerned for this use of popular culture to promote your organization. You should know better; how the media will take this and twist it or the headlines that will be formed just slightly distorted enough to grab attention to sell more media; there is no end to the madness. As usual, the public will only remember the scandal and miss the message however good intentioned you believed it would be entirely. We have so few good role models in this world, especially for our young ones - I respect your organization and have been a subscriber over the years. This was not one of your finer moments and I hope there are as few like them in the future.

[Ana]

Sorry doesn't work for this. You article CANNOT be deleted. NEVER EVER. Mind your own business!It is that simple.