Seat belt survey shows more Minnesotans are buckling up
Sept. 16, 2024
Think back to the last time you were in a car. Did you buckle up before you left? If you're like most Minnesotans, the answer is yes. The percentage of people buckling up reached a 10-year high of 94.7 percent this year.
Overall, more people are buckling up on Minnesota roads, according to an annual seat belt survey funded by our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) division. When looking at available survey data dating back to 2010, the 2024 rate of 94.7 percent is the highest rate recorded since 2013 (94.8 percent) and the fourth year in a row we've seen the number go up.
Numbers are going up in populations that have been an ongoing concern, including young adults who are 16 to 29 years old and pickup drivers. The percentage of young adults choosing to wear a seat belt rose to a ten-year high of 93.6 percent. Pickup drivers hit an all-time high of 91.9 percent.
"It's really encouraging to see these numbers so high. I know our team has worked extremely hard trying to educate Minnesotans across the state on the importance of seat belt safety, and these numbers reflect you're listening," said OTS Director Mike Hanson. "It's a simple step, but it makes all the difference."
Troopers, deputies and officers will be participating in a statewide seat belt and child passenger safety campaign Sept. 15-21. The goal is to instill safe habits into all drivers, so all Minnesotans get home safely. Minnesota law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts or be in the correct car seat. Belts should be tight across the hips or thighs and should never be tucked under the arm or behind the back.
The reason is clear: Seat belts save lives. In the 37 years since seat belts became mandatory, the number of people injured in traffic crashes has dropped significantly. In 1987, there were 4,176 vehicle occupants who suffered severe injuries in traffic crashes. That number was 1,285 last year.
The national campaign serves as an annual reminder to all of us: While we might be great drivers, we can't predict everything that the roads throw at us. Seat belts keep drivers and passengers inside the vehicle during a crash, saving lives.
Our extra enforcement campaign also reminds us to protect our littlest passengers by following the new guidelines in Minnesota's updated Child Passenger Safety Law. Instead of only relying on the child's size, the law specifies ages for rear and forward-facing car seats, booster seats and seat belts (subject to weight and height depending on the child seat manufacturer). In addition, the booster seat requirement has been increased from 8 to 9 years old.
