“There are far too many preventable deaths and life-altering injuries occurring on our roads,” said Donna Berger, OTS director. “In the next two weeks, you’ll see and hear our seat belt safety messages throughout the state. Buckle up – it’s the law and it’s your best defense in case of a crash.”

 

A record-number of Minnesotans use their seat belts (94.8 percent), but a significant number (41.3 percent) of motor vehicle occupants who were killed in the last five years (2009-2013) were not wearing seat belts. In 2013 alone, 94 people died and 1,668 were injured who were not buckled up.

 

On average, three of four child seats are not used correctly. Included in the 2009-2013 statistics are eight children under age 8 who were killed and another 1,105 injured because they were not properly restrained in car seats.

 

Data from 2009-2013 also shows:

Minnesota Seat Belt Law
Minnesota’s seat belt law is a primary offense, meaning drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint. A seat belt ticket can cost between $25 to more than $100.

 
Minnesota Child Passenger Safety and Booster Seat Law
Children under age 13 should always ride in the back seat. A child who is both under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches is required to be fastened in a child safety seat or booster seat that meets federal safety standards. Under this law, a child cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall – whichever comes first. It is recommended to keep a child in a booster based on their height, rather than their age. Learn more about child passenger safety and the booster seat law.

 

About the Minnesota Department Public Safety
DPS comprises 11 divisions where 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

 

About the Office of Traffic Safety
OTS designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program and for the child seats for needy families program.

 

OTS is an anchoring partner of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) traffic safety initiative.