TEENS: You might feel uncomfortable strapped into your seat riding in an automobile, but riders should buckle up every time if they value life and health. Riding around unbelted is unwise. Accidents happen without warning, and people who are wearing seatbelts have a much better chance to escape serious injury and death. Here's why:

In a 30-mph collision with a solid object, an unbelted driver or passenger slams into the windshield, the instrument panel or the steering wheel and column at more than 100 times the force of gravity. The unbelted occupant of the 30-mph crash hits the windshield or other interior surface of the vehicle with the same impact as a fall from a three-story building. The impact of a mere 20-mph crash is roughly equivalent to catching a 200-pound weight dropped from seven feet. Ouch!

An unbelted rider holding a child on his or her lap in a 30-mph crash is thrown forward with the force of one-and-a-half tons. The child could be crushed to death.

Safety belts help vehicle occupants "ride down" the force of the crash (the first collision) by holding them in place and preventing contact with either the interior of the vehicle or other occupants (the second collision).

Please take this advice. Buckle up every time you are in a motor vehicle. You might never be involved in an accident, but if you are, you will be thankful that you were buckled up! STAY SAFE!

IT'S MATURITY, NOT AGE

DR. WALLACE: My parents and I are having a disagreement and I need your opinion. I have been interested in a guy for about a year now. We had a class together last year, and we took summer school together. Now we have band together this year. Well, he finally asked me out about a month ago. Great, right?

Not really. My dad thinks it's "inappropriate" for me to date until I'm 16 (and I will be 16 in about seven months.) My mom totally agrees with me, however, and she knows this boy and would like me to go out with him.

I am section leader in band. I have a 4.0 grade point average and I participate actively in my church. Do you think I should be allowed to date? — Nameless, Seattle, Wash.

NAMELESS: I have never favored parents' letting calendars absolutely determine when their child begins dating. A teenager's maturity, dependability and trustworthiness are far better gauges. Some teens are mature enough to date when they're 14, while others need to wait a few more years.

This is not an easy decision for a parent to make, but in your case, I'd have to agree with your mom.

P.S.: I'm impressed with your GPA!

CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS ARE GONE

DR. WALLACE: My ex and I dated for over a year, but we broke up because we were becoming too serious. Both of us are now dating others. I had told him when we broke up that I wanted us to remain close friends, but he only laughed and said it was impossible now for us to remain close friends.

I don't see why couples that break up can't still be close friends. Can you tell me why? — Nameless, DeKalb, Ill.

NAMELESS: Close friends enjoy doing things together. Couples who end a relationship stop doing things together. So it's extremely rare when a close friendship remains after a couple breaks up.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: SmartSign