Whether you’re a new teen driver or a seasoned vet, it’s easy to forget the basics before driving. Releasing the parking brake is one example, but fortunately, many new cars do that for you. Others take it a step further. We have the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country for a week and noticed that it has one safety feature that’s annoying but necessary.

The “Buckle to Drive” feature is made to save lives

In case you haven’t heard, GM started rolling out a “Buckle to Drive” feature on cars like the Chevy Equinox, Colorado, and Blazer. Apparently, it’s also standard on our 2022 Chevy Silverado tester. The feature’s function is simple; the driver must buckle in their safety belt before the car can be shifted into drive or reverse.

We admit that the feature can be a little annoying if you only plan to move the truck a few feet to re-park it, but it’s a smart feature nonetheless. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the national use rate of seatbelts in 2020 was 90.3%. That’s pretty high, but not high enough, considering how many drivers there are nationwide. We have to wonder; why doesn’t every automaker utilize the same type of feature in their cars? Maybe they will in the future.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado also has a “Teen Driver” mode

To complement the “Buckle to Drive” feature, GM also implanted a “Teen Driver” mode in the 2022 Silverado (in addition to other models). If you have a teen driver at home and want to set boundaries on how they drive, this is the mode for you. The teen driver mode allows you to enable the Buckle to Drive feature as well as set a speed limiter, speed warning, and an audio volume limit to avoid distractions.

According to Chevrolet, “Studies have shown that teenage drivers are more likely to make poor driving decisions, such as speeding, not fastening their seat belts, or distracted driving.” This technology allows parents to educate their kids on good driving habits, and it should reduce the likelihood of any accidents or mishaps on the road.

Best of all, the feature has a built-in report card that will show the parent important drive-time information like overspeed warnings, forward collision alerts, and the distance driven. While the feature can essentially tattle on the teen driver, it’s mainly put in place so that parents can coach their kids while learning how to drive.

What other safety features does the Chevy Silverado have?

In addition to the seatbelt and teen driver features, the 2022 Silverado comes with a host of safety features. These features include a forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and a lane-keep assist with a lane-departure warning. There are also safety aids when driving in reverse.

The Silverado is equipped with a reverse camera, a rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and a rear pedestrian alert. Additionally, there are cameras all over the truck to provide the driver with different views when parking or going off-road. There’s even a camera pointed at the truck bed.

With all of these features, it’s safe to say that the 2022 Chevy Silverado is one of the safest vehicles on the road. Even if you’re only planning to drive it a few feet across a parking lot. Just remember to buckle up first.