Safe Communities

The majority of Minnesotans buckle up, yet each year more than half of the motorists killed in crashes aren’t belted — translating to around 200 deaths and 400-plus serious injuries annually. Seat belts are the simplest and most effective way to prevent death or injury in a crash — especially on roads plagued with speeding, distracted and impaired drivers.  Seat belts restrain motorists in the vehicle’s designed protective space, giving them room to live in the event of a crash.   Seat belts also keep a motorist correctly positioned behind the wheel to help maintain control of a vehicle.

Room To Live Video 

   Mower County is ahead of the curve when it comes to DWI conviction rates, according to a study done by the Mower County Safe Communities Coalition. 
Read more in the Austin Daily Herald article:  
Mower ahead of state in DWI convictions

Fasten Your Seat Belts — Primary Seat Belt Law Effective
Minnesota’s seat belt law is a primary offense, meaning drivers and passengers in all seating positions must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint.
Law enforcement will stop and ticket motorists for seat belt violations, including unbelted passengers. A seat belt violation can cost more than $100.
Seat belt enforcement of this law begins with the motorist — speak up and insist passengers are buckled up.

If you are interested in helping make Minnesota roadways safer, consider joining the Safe Communities Coalition.  It is open to everyone.  While we focus on involvement of individuals from the four "E's"...Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency Services, we also need community members. 

Please contact Lynn Spainhower at (507)434-2160 if you are interested in joining the coalition!

Seat Belt Tips

• Always buckle up — and insist passengers are belted, too. In a crash, unbelted motorists can slam into and injure or kill others inside a vehicle.
• Wear lap belts low and snug across the hips; shoulder straps should never be tucked under an arm or behind the back — not only is this unsafe, it is illegal.
• Children under age 13 should always ride in the back seat. Kids under 4-feet 9-inches should be in a booster seat.
• Pregnant women should wear the lap belt under the stomach, as low on the hips as possible and against the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest between the breasts.