SEAT BELT SAFETY INFORMATION

The Safety Council takes the safety of our traveling community very seriously, and encourages the proper use of a seat belt every time you get in your vehicle.  Upon request, Safety Council staff may provide information on state laws applicable to safety belt use, as well as other pertinent traffic safety information. 

Currently, the state of Missouri has only a secondary seat belt law, meaning that a motorist may not be stopped by a law enforcement officer simply for not wearing a seat belt.  If a motorist is stopped for any other lawful reason and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, a citation may be issued.  Currently the statewide fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $10.

The St. Joseph Safety and Health Council supports the passage of a Primary Seat Belt Law which would grant law enforcement officers the power to stop and issue drivers a seat belt citation simply for not wearing their seatbelt.

The Buckle Up Phone Down initiative was created to address two of the most impactful actions a driver can take to prevent crashes or survive if one occurs: buckling their seat belts—every occupant, every time—and putting the phone down or turning it off if you’re driving. More than 20,000 individuals and businesses have committed to driving safer by signing a pledge to buckle their seat belts and put their phones down or turn them off while driving. Participants are encouraged to sign up online at modot.org/bupd

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is giving local communities a chance to share the Buckle Up Phone Down message with their residents and visitors. To raise awareness, the Coalition is distributing BUPD signs. These signs are intended to be placed in areas like parking lots to convey the BUPD message before drivers get onto an active roadway. Metal and yard signs are available, free of charge, from the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.