The Department of Public Safety said Tuesday the number of Minnesotans wearing seat belts has risen dramatically, with 88 percent of vehicle occupants now using them.
The department said a survey revealed that seat belt use rose 5 percent in 2007, up from 83 percent last year.
Officials cite several factors: increased education, heightened concern for safety and increased enforcement of the state’s seat belt laws. They also said public reaction to the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge likely played a key role.
Minnesota law requires vehicle occupants in the front seat and anybody between ages of 3 and 11 in any seat to wear a seat belt.
Unbelted vehicle occupants account for about half of Minnesota’s motor vehicle deaths.
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