Students from Ms. Collette’s 5th grade class were awarded a pizza party sponsored by Perham EMS on Friday, May 18 for their participation in the Otter Tail County Safe Communities Coalition Seat Belt Safety Poster Contest.
A total of 18 students submitted unique artwork designed with an important safety message reminding motorist to always buckle up! 5th Graders Jaiden Pappenfuss, Bella Wimmer, Colter Weaver, Lindsey Rastedt and Elsa Brandvold were recognized for their outstanding creativity in driving that live saving message home.
As everyone knows, Minnesota has a primary seat belt law. This means that every person riding in a vehicle has to be buckled up. Law enforcement can stop a vehicle for no other reason than someone in the vehicle not wearing a seat belt. Even if a passenger is not belted, law enforcement can stop a vehicle, and a ticket can cost more than $100.
There will be extra law enforcement patrols in Otter Tail County from May 21st through June 3rd looking for unbelted drivers or their passengers.
This law is first and foremost a law to ensure motorists are traveling safely. The facts are clear that a seat belt is your best defense in a crash — especially when our roads are still threatened with speeding, distracted and impaired drivers. Approximately 30% of all fatalities occurring on roads in Otter Tail County have victims who were not wearing a seat belt.
The true enforcement of this law begins with you. If you are traveling in a car, either as the driver or a passenger, it’s your job to speak up and insist everyone is buckled up. This is important not just because it’s the law but for safety — in a crash, unbelted passengers can slam into and injure or kill others in a vehicle.
The partners of the Safe Communities Coalition, Perham EMS and Perham Police Department was to send a big THANK YOU to Ms. Collette’s class for reminding Otter Tail County motorists to CLICK IT OR TICKET!
For more information about the Safe Communities Coalition, please contact Jane Neubauer, Coordinator, at 218-731-4163 or by email at jmneubauer@prtel.com.
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