Seat belt safety is a recurring issue

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, over the past weekend, there were 10 traffic crash deaths in which nine of the victims were not wearing their seat belts. In six of the crashes, the fatalities were ejected from the vehicle. Eight of the crashes involved vehicles leaving the roadway and/or overturning.
These statistics are not meant to scare you, but to remind you of the dangers of not wearing a seat belt. Each death could have been avoided by taking a few seconds to buckle up when getting in the car.
Whether it be a quick trip down the block or a cross country road trip, it is always important to wear a seat belt, for everyone’s safety. The decisions we make do impact the lives of those around us, and it’s important to think of all the consequences to the actions we may or may not take.
In case you are unaware, here is the latest Missouri Safety Belt Law:
• All people operating or riding in a truck with a licensed gross weight less than 12,000 pounds must wear a safety belt. The only exemptions are vehicles being used for agricultural activities and U.S. Postal workers.
• All people under age 18 operating or riding in a truck must wear a safety belt regardless of the truck’s licensed gross weight.
• Children ages four through 15 must wear safety belts regardless of the type of vehicle in which they are riding or where they are seated (front or back). Like the child restraint law, this is a primary law, meaning you can be pulled over for non-compliance.
• No person under age 18 is allowed to ride in the unenclosed bed of a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than 12,000 pounds on lettered highways, and within city limits. There are exemptions for agricultural purposes, special events and parades.
Remember, don’t just do it for yourself, but think about your family, loved ones and other motorists out on the road, because it is not just you that can be affected in the case of any accident.