ST. PAUL – Despite record-high seat belt use in Minnesota, the small percentage of people who don’t buckle up continue to account for a staggering 20 percent of traffic fatalities. This year, seat belt compliance has reached an all-time high of 95.2 percent — the best rate recorded since 2010. But even one unbuckled life lost is one too many. September’s Click It or Ticket campaign encourages all Minnesotans to make the life-saving choice to buckle up, every seat, every time.

Troopers, deputies and officers will participate in the weeklong seat belt and child passenger safety campaign Sept. 21-27. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) coordinates the campaign, which includes extra enforcement and advertising in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. Funding is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“We’ve seen how even a small increase in buckling up can save countless lives,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “Please buckle up every single time. Do it for yourself, do it for your kids and don’t hesitate to remind others. This one simple action has the power to prevent heartbreak and save lives.”

2025 annual seat belt survey results

Every year, OTS conducts an annual seat belt survey that documents seat belt use among drivers and front seat passengers. It follows NHTSA’s uniform criteria for state observational surveys of seat belt use. 

• 95.2 percent of people were found to use their seat belts in 2025.
• This year was the fourth consecutive increase in seat belt use since 2021 and is an all-time high since 2010.
• In 2025, seat belt use among young adults (ages 16 to 29) and pickup users fell but all other age groups grew in their use of seat belts.
• Female drivers and passengers continued to increase their usage in 2025. Male seat belt usage fell from 93.6 percent in 2024 to 93.4 percent in 2025.

Obey the law to prevent serious or fatal injuries in a crash

• Minnesota law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts or be in the correct car seat or booster seat. Belts should be tight across the hips or thighs. Properly position the shoulder belt across the chest and never tuck it under the arm or behind the back.
• Children must use a car seat or booster until they are 9 years old or have outgrown the booster seat. They also must pass the five-step test that demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly.
• Preliminary counts show 106 unbelted motorists died on Minnesota roads in 2024 compared with 79 in 2023.
• As of Aug. 28, there have been 20 percent fewer traffic fatalities and a 66 percent decrease in unbelted traffic fatalities compared to 2024.
• In 2024, one child traffic fatality was associated with improper car seat use.

Proper car seat use

• From birth until 2 years old, children should be in a rear-facing car seat or a convertible car seat.
• Once a child is at least 2 years old and has outgrown the rear-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight, they can move to a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness.
• Children 4 years old who have outgrown the forward-facing seat with internal harness by height or weight should ride restrained in a belt-positioning booster seat using the lap belt and shoulder belt.
• Children 9 years old or who have outgrown the booster seat and can pass the five-step test that demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly may ride restrained with a lap belt and shoulder belt secured correctly on the vehicle seat.
• Children under 13 years old must sit in the back seat if possible.
• If a child can be placed in more than one category, then the child must be placed in the more protective cate​gory (rear-facing being the most protective category).

About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s more than 2,400 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

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's 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. These efforts form a strong foundation for the statewide Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program, child seats for needy families program, school bus stop arm camera project and oversees the funding for the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety.