Fall Seatbelt Campaign To Convince Motorists That Seatbelts Save Lives

(SOUTH BRUCE COUNTY, ON.) – The South Bruce OPP participated in the
OPP 2011 Fall Seatbelt campaign from October 10th, 2011 until October
16th, 2011.

The South Bruce OPP focused their efforts on child restraints during
the campaign to raise awareness and protect children. A properly used
child booster seat reduces a child’s risk of injury in a crash by as
much as 75 percent, yet OPP officers find many child car seats are
incorrectly used or incorrectly installed.

When used correctly, a booster seat provides 60 per cent more
protection than a seatbelt alone. In a collision, children using
seatbelts instead of booster seats are three and a half times more
likely to suffer significant injury, and four times more likely to
suffer head injury.

Seatbelt non-compliance draws a fine of $235 and two demerit points.

During the campaign, 2, 414 seatbelt charges were laid across the
Province, with 346 of the charges laid in West Region. At the South
Bruce detachment, 17 motorists were charged for failing to wear a seat
belt.

South Bruce OPP officers responded to 6 motor vehicle crashes during
the campaign, with minor injuries reported at 2 of the scenes.

“Enough lives have been lost on Ontario highways in preventable
collisions. South Bruce OPP officers will be out each shift watching
for drivers that speed, drive impaired, drive distracted or fail to
wear their seatbelt. These acts are not only illegal, they create an
unacceptable risk to public safety on the roads” – Inspector Bill
Klym, Detachment Commander, South Bruce OPP.

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