Motorists in Minnesota are being urged to buckle up as part of a new ‘click it or ticket’ campaign.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) has coordinated the enforcement, education and awareness campaign which will see extra police patrols as well as advertising across the State​ in support of the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program.

“Enforcement and education are effective traffic safety tools to help people realize that their decisions matter when it comes to life or death behind the wheel,” said DPS-OTS Director Mike Hanson.

“Most Minnesotans buckle up— and it’s a lifesaver. Those who don’t need to think about how quickly the situation on the road can change. It could be the distracted driver suddenly veering toward you or that unseen patch of ice making your vehicle slide off the road and roll. Click it and live.”

Preliminary counts show 110 unbelted motorists died on Minnesota roads in 2021 compared with 105 in 2020 and 73 in 2019.

The 110 unbelted deaths last year is the highest number since 2014.