Drivers told to ‘do better’ and wear a seat belt during every trip

The number of Minnesota drivers wearing seat belts is at an all-time high, according to the Department of Public Safety’s annual seat belt observation survey.

But even with 95.2% of vehicle occupants following the law, far too many deaths still result from unbelted motorists and children who are not properly restrained, said Mike Hanson, director of the Office of Traffic Safety.

“We can do better Minnesota,” Hanson said last week during a press event to announce a week-long seat belt and child car seat enforcement campaign running through Saturday. “Let’s get to 100 percent. That simple little strap is preventing tragedy everyday.”

In 2024, motorists who did not buckle up accounted for 106 deaths, or 20% of road fatalities in Minnesota, DPS data shows.

Minnesota law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts or be in the correct child restraint. Belts should be tight across the hips or thighs and should never be tucked under the arm or behind the back, according to the Minnesota Safety Council, which last year launched a repository seat belt safety website buckleupmn.org.

Between 2016 and 2024, about a third of children killed in motor vehicle crashes were not belted in, said Lisa Kons, the council’s Traffic Safety and Advocacy Director

Jennifer Starkson, of Lamberton, Minn., knows first-hand how being properly restrained can save lives.

“She was very firm about buckling up her children,” Starkson said. “It didn’t matter how far they were going, they were in the car seats. No compromise.”

Grunewald, who was wearing a seat belt, did not survive the crash, but her three girls did, Starkson said.

Starkson said seat belts prevented further heartache.

“I want to tell every parent, grandparent and anyone else who drives with a child: buckle them up,” Starkson said. “Don’t take a chance. Buckle them up every time. Her three babies are with us today because she buckled every time.”

Law enforcement will be watching for unbelted motorists and children not properly restrained. A change in state law in 2024 now specifies the age for using front- or rear-facing car or booster seats.

At age 2: Children may ride in forward-facing seat if they have outgrown the rear-facing seat requirement by weight or height as specified by the manufacturer.

Ages 4 to 9: Children can ride in a front-facing booster with safety belt if they have outgrown the forward-facing requirements by height or weight.

Ages 9 and older: Children may wear a regular seat belt with a lap and shoulder strap, provided they have outgrown requirements for the booster seat. With the child’s back flat against the back seat, the lap strap must fit snugly across thighs and lower hips and not abdomen, and the shoulder strap snugly across the chest and not the neck.

All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat when possible.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates about half of car seats are installed incorrectly.