Seat belt laws to be enforced
County accidents cause 61 injuries, five
deaths, over $6 million loss in 2002
Posted 5/15/03

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times

Out of six vehicle deaths in Mille Lacs County in 2002, five of those victims were not wearing seat belts.

Beginning Monday, May 19, the Mille Lacs County Sheriffıs office will be participating in a nationwide mobilization to enforce seat belt laws. The enforcement effort will continue through Sunday, June 1.

There is a direct correlation between the seat belt usage that has increased over the past twenty years and the decrease in the number of serious injuries and fatalities.

Yet 61 people in the county who were not properly buckled up were injured in auto accidents.

And the financial impact on Mille Lacs County taxpayers and insurance companies due to accidents in 2002 was an estimated $6.1 million.

Over 40,000 people were injured in accidents in Minnesota last year, with 657 deaths. The economic impact to the state as a whole was over $1.2 billion in 2002.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for Minnesota teens - which is more than the next six leading causes of teen death combined.

Of all the people severely injured on Minnesota roadways last year, seat belt use was lowest among persons ages 15 to 24.

The law requires all residents and non-residents to properly wear a seat belt when in the front seat of a vehicle, as well as all occupants who are under the age of 11 (no matter where the child is riding in the vehicle).

Children under the age of four must be secured in a safety seat that meets all federal safety standards. And infants under 20 pounds and under one year of age must be in a rear-facing safety seat.

Though a driver canıt be pulled over for lack of seat belt use alone, if thereıs another reason for law enforcement to stop a motorist a citation can be issued at that time for no seat belt or improper use of a seat belt.