More than 300 law enforcement agencies have teamed up to take part in a Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign in Minnesota.
The event, which runs until September 28, highlights the importance of buckling up and making sure children are in the correct safety seat.
âFor motorists who donât buckle up â sometimes itâs stubbornness,â said Mike Hanson, Office of Traffic Safety director. âSometimes itâs forgetfulness. Sometimes itâs the feeling of invincibility and thinking youâre in total control of what happens on the road.
âWhatever the reason, it can kill you. Be smart and take a couple of seconds to click it.â
In the five years (2004 â 2008) leading up to Minnesotaâs primary seat belt law, 51 percent of 1,008 fatalities were known to be unbelted motorists, according to data from Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
The past five years have shown a decrease to 34 percent of the 446 fatalities across the state.
Minnesota law states that drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled or seated in the correct child restraint. Officers will stop and ticket unbelted drivers or passengers.