Make seatbelt use a life-saving strategy - Is yours on?

OPP Provincial Wrap-up

ORILLIA, ON, April 26 /CNW/ - The annual Spring Seatbelt Campaign which ran from April 14 through April 24 saw the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) increase their visibility throughout the province to ensure that motorists were wearing their seatbelts and that children were properly restrained.

This public education campaign was organized in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and other road safety partners.

This year, OPP officers checked 996,316 vehicles which resulted in a total of 5,611 charges being laid against drivers and another 1,523 for passengers not wearing their seatbelts. Police laid a further 132 charges against drivers for not having a properly installed/secured child restraint.

During the course of the campaign, The OPP report that 41 people were injured in collisions for non seatbelt compliance and 1 person lost their life as a result of not wearing their seatbelt on OPP patrolled roads.

During the 2009 campaign, the OPP checked 1,072,003 vehicles during the Spring Seatbelt Campaign and laid a total of 10,592 charges.

OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, Provincial Commander responsible for traffic safety stated, "Despite the public's awareness of this issue, there are still too many people taking needless risks with their lives by not taking the simplest and most effective of safety precautions and buckling up."

"I am encouraged to see that even though we checked about the same number of vehicles this year compared to last year, the number of charges laid this year was almost half. Regardless, we will continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to save lives on Ontario's roads and to protect our children," said Commissioner Julian Fantino.

Seat belt non-compliance remains one of the 3 major causes of persons killed in fatal motor vehicle collisions along with speeding and impaired driving.

LEARN MORE

Ontario Ministry of Transportation at www.mto.gov.on.ca

Ontario Provincial Police at www.opp.ca

For further information: OPP Regional Contacts: Highway Safety Division: Sergeant Dave Woodford, Phone: [phone]; Central Region: Constable Peter Leon, Phone: [phone]; Eastern Region: Sergeant Kristine Rae, Phone: [phone]; Northeast Region: Inspector Mark Andrews, Phone: [phone]; Northwest Region: Sergeant Shelley Garr, Phone: [phone]; Western Region: Sergeant Dave Rektor, Phone: [phone]