In the last week in Minnesota, 10 people were killed in traffic crashes. Of those fatalities, nine were not wearing seat belts and at least six were ejected from the vehicle. This recent rash of preventable tragedies underscores safety advice that many of us heed, but still too many ignore: buckle up.
A seat belt is your best defense on roads plagued with speeding, distracted and impaired drivers. Quite simply, if you choose not to buckle up, your chances of surviving a crash are cut in half. Everyone has an excuse for not wearing a seat belt. The only problem is that excuse won't do you much good in the case of a crash. Traffic deaths can be avoided. The first step is to buckle up and to make sure everyone you are riding with is belted as well.
