Honestly, if you make it a habit to put your seat belt on as soon as you get in the car, you'll eventually have an uneasy feeling when you don't have it on.  It's a proven fact that wearing seat belts help to save lives.  With the statistics verifying that fact our Northland law enforcement has stepped up their seat belt enforcement.  It's important and it's the law.

 

The increased patrols are now through October 26 with the Duluth Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, UMD Police Department, Hermantown Police Department, Proctor Police Department, Floodwood Police Department and Minnesota State Patrol.  They are part of nearly 400 different Minnesota agencies conducting extra seat belt enforcement during the Click It or Ticket educational and enforcement campaign.

Seat Belt Use Climbing

Before Minnesota’s first seat belt law in June 1986, 20 percent of front seat vehicle occupants wore belts. Last year, 95 percent of drivers and front seat passengers were using seat belts.

Want statistics?  Each year in Minnesota, less than half of occupants killed in motor vehicle crashes were buckled up.

  • · In 2013, 78 percent of unbelted deaths occurred in Greater Minnesota.
  • · From 2011 – 2013, 816 were killed in Minnesota and only 49 percent were known to be belted.
  • · Last year, only 33 percent of drinking drivers killed were known to be belted.

Wear your seat belt and your chance of surviving a crash goes up significantly. The sad thing is teens and young adults too often make the wrong choice about seat belts compared to other age groups, and as a result are involved in more fatal crashes. Everyone, no matter what the age should buckle up!

Drivers and All Passengers Must Be Belted

Minnesota law states that drivers and passengers in all seating positions are buckled up or seated in the correct child restraint. I don't even take the car out of park until I know everyone in my car has their seat belt on.  Officers will stop and ticket unbelted drivers AND/OR passengers. Seat belts must be worn correctly — low and snug across the hips; shoulder straps should never be tucked under an arm or behind the back.  (ok, I am guilty of this on long car rides)!

Minnesota Child Car Seat Law and Steps

One question that parents always have is how long their kids need to be in a child restraint.  In Minnesota, children must be in a child restraint until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, or at least age 8, whichever comes first. As children grow up, the car seats they use need to grow up with them: (totally makes sense!)

  • Rear-facing infant seats – Newborns to at least 1 year and 20 pounds; recommended up to age 2. It is safest to keep a child rear-facing as long as possible.
  • Forward-facing toddler seats – Age 2 until around age 4. It’s preferable to keep children in a harnessed restraint as long as possible.
  • Booster seats – Use after outgrowing a forward-facing harnessed restraint; safest to remain in a booster until 4 feet 9 inches tall, or at least age 8, whichever comes first.

If your child can can sit with their back against the seat and have their knees bent comfortably over the vehicle seat edge with feet touching the floor. They are ready for seat belts.  Children at least 4 feet 9 inches tall should be able to correctly wear a lap/shoulder belt.

 

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