Dps.mn.gov



[DATE][EDITOR’S NAME][PUBLICATION NAME][ADDRESS][CITY, STATE ZIP]Dear Editor: I bet some of you reading this remember being a little kid years ago, going on the big road trip, driving at night, on your back underneath the rear window looking at the stars. Or pushing and shoving your brother for more room in the back seat. Makes you smile thinking about those fun days. Cars had seat belts, but it wasn’t the law to wear them.Those are great memories, but we should be thankful we survived knowing what we know now. Stats and stories show that seat belts save lives. What’s so sad is that many people didn’t survive crashes before mandatory seat belt laws.We’ve come a long way over the years. Most Minnesotans are making the life-saving decision to buckle up. According to the 2019 Minnesota Observational Seat Belt Survey, 93.4 percent of front seat occupants are wearing their seat belts.But starting last year after the pandemic arrived, a troubling issue began to develop. Last year, preliminary figures show that 112 unbelted motorists died on Minnesota roads compared to 73 in 2019. The 112 deaths were the highest since 2012 (116). The tragedy is continuing. Unbelted deaths are on pace to exceed 2020 numbers. Between Jan. 1 and April 22, preliminary reports show 31 unbelted motorists died so far this year compared with 22 this time last year.That’s why [INSERT YOUR AGENCY NAME] is participating in an extra seat belt patrols and awareness campaign coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. The statewide campaign is running May 24 – June 6.You may be a good driver and think the risk is low if you’re not buckled up. Your driving skills aren’t the problem. It’s the unexpected that will seriously injure or kill you if you’re not wearing a seat belt. The distracted driver drifting into your lane. The deer that jumps into your path. The aggressive driver who is tail-gating or cutting you off.Let’s all commit to stopping the easily preventable unbuckled deaths that are rising in Minnesota. State law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts or be in the correct child restraint. Check out , buckle up and live. Sincerely,[NAME AND RANK] ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download