Increased Seat Belt Enforcement in Wright County

Information provided by the Wright County Sheriff's Office.

Wright County motorists and passengers are reminded to buckle up this spring as extra Click It or Ticket seat belt patrols take to the roads statewide May 20 - June 2. The Wright County Sheriff's Office is among nearly 400 Minnesota agencies increasing patrols to encourage motorists to buckle up.

In the last three years on Minnesota roads (2010-2012), there were 864 traffic deaths, of which 352 (41 percent) were not buckled up. Of those 352 killed, 41 percent were motorists ages 16-29, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

Statistics show that teens and young adults continue to represent a large percentage of unbelted traffic deaths, which indicates there is still a major issue with seat belt usage among that age group, For whatever reason-be it comfort, restriction or philosophy-some motorists and passengers still refuse to wear their seat belts. We ask them to remember that their minor inconvenience could turn out to be a major life saver.

Drivers, Passengers - Including in the Back Seat - Must Be Belted

In Minnesota, drivers and passengers in all seating positions, including in the back seat, are required to be buckled up or seated in the correct child restraint. Officers will stop and ticket unbelted drivers 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.

The Importance of Buckling Up

In rollover crashes, unbelted motorists are usually ejected from the vehicle. In most cases, the vehicle will roll over them. Often, unbelted motorists will crack teeth out on steering wheels or break their nose, and even slam into and injure or kill others in the vehicle.

In a crash, odds are six times greater for injury if a motorist is not buckled up.

Minnesota Child Car Seat Law and Steps
Minnesota statute requires children under age 8 to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster, unless the child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Here are the restraint steps a child should progress through as they age and grow:

• 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 once outgrown a forward-facing harnessed restraint; safest to remain in a booster until 4 feet 9 inches tall, or at least age 8.
• Seat belts - A child is ready for an adult seat belt when they can sit with their back against the vehicle seat, knees bent comfortably and completely over the vehicle seat edge without slouching, and feet touching the floor. Children 4 feet 9 inches tall or taller can correctly fit in a lap/shoulder belt.