I wanted to talk about an aspect that a lot of people overlook and that is the use of seat belts. A
statewide increased seat belt enforcement campaign starts Friday following a deadly start to October — at least 12 traffic deaths in the first six days. The deaths included eight vehicle occupants of which only three were buckled up. That means five people died in which by simply clicking a safety belt could've saved their lives. The increased enforcement runs through Oct. 28. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety is coordinating the effort. The aim of this enforcement effort is to encourage belt use to prevent tragedies. Around 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will conduct seat belt patrols. Half of the enforcement will take place during nighttime and overnight hours, as each year 70 percent of motorists killed during 9 p.m.–3 a.m. are not belted. DPS reports 75 percent of drinking drivers killed crashes are also not belted. Officers will enforce the state’s primary seat belt law, which allows law enforcement to stop and ticket motorists or passengers solely for belt violations. A seat belt fine is $25 but will cost more than $100 with court and administrative fees. The campaign also will include enforcement of Minnesota’s strengthened child passenger safety law that requires children to be in the correct restraint until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall, whichever comes first. This law requires booster seats for children usually starting after turning age 4; boosters help adult seat belts fit children correctly. The seat belt enforcement is a component of the state’s core traffic safety initiative, Toward Zero Deaths (TZD). TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response. The goal of the program is 400 or fewer deaths by the end of 2010. To-date, there have been 319 traffic deaths in Minnesota compared to 320 deaths at this time in 2009. The message here is to BUCKLE UP EVERYONE!!! Seat belts are built-in to vehicles for a reason: to use them and to save lives. You can read more about this story at: (Seat Belts).
This is a great post because seat belts are so crucial when driving. Yes, I know they can get annoying and be a hassle but the more you wear them the less you notice them. The statistics on the accident and death rates are awful. So many lives would be saved if you just did the one simple motion. I had two friends who were killed in a car accident in 2005. They were not wearing their seat belts. They were ejected from the car and would have had a had a chance of survival if they would have been wearing their seal belts. After this I always wear my seat belt along with my passengers. I am happy Minnesota is taking so many precautions because it is for our own good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alicia this is a great post. Its so important that people do this and yet many people do over look it. And the statistics that you gave us about the traffic accidents are horrible and so sad. I have heard lots of stories that people have told me about how their life was saved just by buckling up. I really need to start thinking about it more my self because sometimes I forget. Great Post Matt!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Matt! My family has two little kids so I was privy to learning all about how important safety for children is in cars. Did you know that not only do booster seats help make seat belts fit better but it also raises their head so it is out of the "strike zone", this is helpful mostly if a sedan or small car hits the car with a child in it. very interesting post!
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