QUESTION: What do the words “wave” and “hug” have to do with safe driving?

ANSWER: An “enforcement wave” is when additional law enforcement officers are on our Minnesota roads focusing on a specific traffic safety risk: drivers who are not wearing seat belts, children who are not in proper safety restraints, either car seats or booster seats, drivers who are speeding, or drivers who are distracted by cell phone use. May 18-May 31 is the spring seat belt use enforcement wave.

There are “waves” because the lives of the people in cars are all valuable and the goal is to keep all drivers and passengers safe and healthy: no deaths and no injuries because of unnecessary car crashes or careless driving habits. Think about how we show the special people in our lives, young and old, that we love them. We give hugs. So, instead of thinking about a seat belt as a “nuisance,” think of a seat belt as a “hug” that is always given/received in your car. All children need that seat belt hug. All teenagers need that seat belt hug. All adults need that seat belt hug.

Drivers of all ages in Minnesota increasingly understand the importance of child restraints for their youngest passengers. A recent survey showed that 70.8 percent of drivers between 16 – 29 years of age properly restrained child passengers in 2014 (compared to 50.9 percent in 2011); 73.4 percent of drivers between 30-59 years of age properly restrained child passengers in 2014 (compared to 67.2 percent in 2013); 71.8 percent of drivers over 60 years of age properly restrained child passengers in 2014 (compared to 63.8 percent in 2013.)

Teens and young adults are the people that most often ride unbelted. As a result, they are most often killed in crashes. Young adult, male pick-up drivers are another at-risk group that often chooses not to buckle up. So, if you have teens or young adults in your life, give them an extra hug and tell them to buckle their seat belts, because you love them and because police officers are likely to “wave” them over if they aren’t.

If you would like to talk about the challenges in raising children, call the toll-free Parent WarmLine at 1-888-584-2204/Linea de Apoyo at 1-877-434-9528. For free emergency child care call Crisis Nursery at 1-877-434-9599. Check out www.familiesand communities.org and “Not So Fast” (Author Tim Hollister).