Some interesting information has been released recently by both the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Mower County Safe Communities Coalition.

The good news, as reported by Herald news editor Katie Johnson Wednesday, is that traffic fatalities in Mower County decreased by 3 percent in 2007, while injuries decreased from 217 to 204.

While it in not clear exactly what caused the reduction, we’re pleased to hear that MCSCC officials are “looking at other ways to countermeasure future accidents, like requesting a weather safety arm for state Highway 63 from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.”

Such a device, which would keep drivers from entering Interstate 90 in certain weather conditions, is needed in this area and could ultimately save lives.

The bad news in the recently released information is the percentage of people not wearing seat belts in the parking lots of Mower County High Schools when the MCSCC conducted checks in the fall of 2007 and then again in spring of 2008.

The numbers are alarming.

In Austin, 66 percent were wearing seat belts during the 2007 checks, while 73 percent went wearing them in 2008. While 73 percent isn’t terrible, it could be higher, too.

But it also could be lower.

For the 2008 checks, 47 percent were wearing seat belts in Grand Meadow; 50 percent in LeRoy; 20 percent in Lyle; and 67 percent in Southland.

Driving without a seat belt is against the law, and drivers from 16 to 116 need to take the responsibility to make sure they buckle up.

Driving responsibly is crucial. Don’t use a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t text message. Slow down in bad weather conditions, and wear your seat belt.

Following simple driving laws while using common sense can reduce accidents and can potentially save lives.