Study Confirms: No Seat Belt? Chance of Death Rises!

Interesting analysis that came out this month concerning highway deaths in Minnesota over the last 3 years. The focus again seems to be on how deadly rural roads continue to be. The report also seems to confirm that if you don’t wear a seat belt you are taking a very big risk. Take a look at the top 20 counties:

1. Kanabec (3–3), 100 percent

2. Wadena (3–3), 100 percent

3. Redwood (6–5), 83 percent

4. Lac qui Parle (5–4), 80 percent

5. Brown (4–3 unbelted), 75 percent

6. Martin (13–9), 69 percent

7. Itasca (12–8), 67 percent

8. Aitkin (9–6); 67 percent

9. Pennington (9–6), 67 percent

10. Yellow Medicine (3–2), 67 percent

11. Wilkin (6–4), 67 percent

12. Rice (14–9), 64 percent

13. Winona (16–10), 63 percent

14. Hubbard (8–5), 63 percent

15. Mower (5–3), 60 percent

16. Olmsted (24–14), 58 percent

17. Isanti (19–11), 58 percent

18. Goodhue (14–8), 57 percent

19. Morrison (14–8), 57 percent

20. Mahnomen (7–4), 57 percent

{The list identifies each county (number of motorist deaths – number of unbelted deaths), and its percentage of unbelted deaths. (Counties with fewer than three deaths not listed).}

How many of these people would be alive if they had buckled up?

With any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are many issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed on the same topic. Hopefully, the study and the resulting suggested changes the future numbers for these deaths will go down.