Child seats, seatbelts. No exceptions.

With tragic irony we note that two days after a stricter child-safety seat law went into effect in Nevada, a horrific accident in Washoe Valley injured five children who weren't strapped into the vehicle.

In all, eight people were thrown from the van when it rolled. One person was wearing a seatbelt and remained inside.

We can only pray for the best for the victims of this accident.

For the thousands of motorists who drove past it on Highway 395 - with more than one saying it was the most horrible sight they'd ever seen - we can only hope they cinched their seatbelts a little tighter and will share what they saw with friends and family every time they get behind the wheel.

The statistics should be reason enough:

-- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 34.

-- Most people killed in crashes last year were unrestrained.

-- 73 percent of people who survived a fatal crash in 2002 were restrained.

Yet there's nothing like the chilling sight of a bad accident to drive the message home.

Even the threat of a ticket and fine won't persuade some people to buckle up. Carson City sheriff's deputies, the Nevada Highway Patrol and many other agencies are just concluding a "No Exceptions, No Excuses, Buckle Up Nevada" campaign to crack down on beltless drivers and passengers, yet every day we see people who just can't be bothered.

Some think it's their prerogative. But part of the campaign must apply to children, who need the protection of seatbelts and the example of adults to learn the habit at an early age.

In case you missed it, the new law June 1 requires a safety seat for children under the age of 6 who also weigh 60 pounds or less. Safety advocates say age 8 and 80 pounds is a better guide.

No exceptions. No excuses.