Clicking into State Law | Video

Amy Fox | 9/24/2012

At this time last year, 44 people died in fatal crashes as a result of not wearing a safety belt. Those numbers are on the rise, there have already been 59 deaths reported so far this year.

There`s still confusion on what state law says about seat belts. Adults are required to wear a seat belt in the front seat, but it’s optional when riding in the back. Kids 18 and younger are required to wear a safety belt at all times, regardless of where they sit.

"It`s too late to start thinking about a seat belt once a crash has occurred and there`s a lot of drivers seriously injured that were wishing they were wearing a seat belt that would have had it on prior to the crash and they realized it would lessen their injuries,” said Captain Gary Orluck, North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Right now, Ward County has a 70 percent seat belt usage rate.

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