| Buckle up — it's the law |
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Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 10:21 am
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Minnesota's primary seat belt law goes into effect Tuesday, meaning drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint or they could be stopped and ticketed.
Northfielder Kathy Cooper was at a press conference early Tuesday, helping announce the law. It’s the end of a decade-long journey for Cooper who has spent much of the last decade pushing for stricter seat belt laws after her then 15-year-old daughter Meghan’s death, due in part to her not wearing a seatbelt.
Tuesday was the 10th anniversary of Meghan’s accident.
Each year in Minnesota, around 200 unbelted motorists are killed and another 400 unbelted motorists suffer life-altering injuries, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Officials say the new law will increase the state's seat belt use compliance and as a result prevent traffic deaths and injuries.
Michael Campion, DPS commissioner, says that while a majority of Minnesotans belt up (87 percent), those that don't — approximately 700,000 motorists — account for half of all motorist traffic deaths annually.
DPS says the lives saved and injuries prevented will also reduce state heath care costs. Unbelted motorists injured in crashes have hospital charges 60 percent greater than those belted.
Officials say the primary law is especially relevant in greater Minnesota. Each year, nearly 80 percent of unbelted traffic deaths occur outside the seven-county metro area. The law will also impact young motorists ages 15 to 29 who account for nearly half of all unbelted deaths, and more than half of all unbelted serious injuries annually.
In last three years, there were 476 traffic deaths June–August and 1,798 serious injuries.
“There is no better defense than a seat belt against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers, which become serious threats during the high-traffic summer driving season,” says Cheri Marti, DPS director of the Office of Traffic Safety. She says motorists also need to wear their belt properly — lap belts low and snug across the hips and shoulder straps should never be tucked under an arm or behind the back — not only is this unsafe, it is illegal.
A seat belt citation is $25 but costs more than $100 with administrative fees. |
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