 Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for persons age 1-34. In 2008, there were 455 traffic deaths in Minnesota. Safety belt use by front seat drivers and passengers was 87%.The fatality rate in Minnesota per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) for 2008 is 0.79, one of the lowest in the nation. Of the 325 occupants of motor vehicles killed in 2008, 150 were recorded as not wearing a seat belt. It is estimated that half should have survived had they been buckled. Of the 455 people who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2008... | |
 161 were under age 30 | |
| 313 were male | |
| 325 were occupants of a motor vehicle | |
| 72 were riding motorcycles | |
| 163 were involved in alcohol related crashes | |
| 25 were pedestrians | |
CRASH DYNAMICS During a motor vehicle crash, three collisions happen: 1. The Vehicle's Collision This is what happens at the point of impact, whether it comes from the front, back or side. The vehicle begins stopping as soon as it collides with an object such as another vehicle, wall or tree. 2. The Human Collision At the moment of impact (whether you are driving or not), you will be moving at the same speed as the car. If you are unbelted, whatever is in front of you (ie. steering wheel, windshield, front seat, another person, etc.) will stop you from moving. The human collision is the one that causes injury. 3. The Human Body's Internal Collision Even after you come to a complete stop, your internal organs continue moving forward. Suddenly, these organs collide with other organs. This collision can cause considerable and potentially fatal injury. With any of these collisions, you and your passengers have the best chance of reducing or avoiding injury if everyone is buckled up. And it’s the law. Effective June 9, 2009, new provisions require everybody of all ages in every seating position in the vehicle to be buckled up or riding in an approved child passenger safety restraint. Also, law enforcement officers will now be able to stop and cite drivers and passengers who are not buckled up. This primary enforcement provision gives the seat belt use law the same status as every other Minnesota traffic safety law. SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES Simply wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of being killed or injured in a traffic crash by 40%-60%. Failure to use a seat belt contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior. | |
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Acknowledgments: | |
| Minnesota Department of Public Safety | |
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |