New website offers comprehensive information, education on seat belts, car seats, booster seats and occupant protection to ensure every driver and passenger is properly restrained.

ST. PAUL, MINN. – What’s the most important step occupants can take to stay safe when they ride in a vehicle? Buckle up – every time, every ride. To help them do it right, the Minnesota Safety Council (MSC) has launched BuckleUpMN, the state’s new resource for the latest and most accurate information to ensure passengers of all ages are safely buckled up every time they ride.
“Correct use of seatbelts, car seats and booster seats is the best protection in the event of a crash,” said Tara Helm, MSC Community Programs and Occupant Protection Manager. “Our goal with BuckleUpMN is to make sure everyone has the information they need to correctly restrain themselves and every passenger. We want everyone to buckle up every trip, every ride, front seat and back seat.”
BuckleUpMN, provides a wealth of resources for drivers, passengers, parents and caregivers including legal guidelines, industry recommendations, how-to videos, fact sheets and much more. Child passenger safety is a key website focus, with detailed guidance on selecting, installing and using appropriate car seats and booster seats for children. In 2022, nearly 90% of children aged 0-4 who died in crashes in Minnesota were unrestrained. This highlights the need for better education and practices around child passenger safety.
Minnesota law requires that drivers and passengers in all seating positions — including the back seat — must be buckled up or in the correct child restraint system. It’s also essential that it’s done right. As of August 1, 2024, Minnesota law requires that all children be secured in an appropriate child restraint system (car seat or booster seat), until at least age 9 or until they’ve outgrown the booster seat AND can pass the 5-Step Test, which helps caregivers determine if a child is ready to ride with the lap and shoulder belt on the vehicle seat. Additionally, all children under the age of 13 must sit in the back seat of the vehicle, if possible.
BuckleUpMN also features a password-protected section with resources for certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), trained professionals who provide hands-on support to help parents and caregivers ensure children are safely secured in vehicles. Research shows that families who work with a certified CPST before their baby’s arrival are 10 times less likely to make mistakes with car seat use and installation. The public-facing website includes a directory of Minnesota locations and events where CPSTs offer car seat installation assistance and car seat inspections.
In 2023, 84 unbelted motorists died on Minnesota roads, highlighting the critical need for proper seat belt use. Seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passengers by 45% and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. While a 2024 observational seat belt survey found that 94.7% of front-seat occupants in Minnesota wore their seat belts — the highest rate in a decade — the goal is always 100% compliance.