Across Saskatchewan, police issued 398 tickets for failing to wear a seatbelt or properly secure children in vehicles during last month’s traffic safety spotlight on occupant safety.
In February, law enforcement across the province were on the lookout for improperly restrained drivers and passengers.
As a result, police issued: 348 tickets for a driver failing to wear a seatbelt; 29 tickets for a passenger failing to wear a seatbelt; eight tickets for a passenger under 16 failing to wear a seatbelt (ticket issued to the driver); and 13 tickets for improper use or installation of a child restraint.
Also in February, police reported 4,168 speeding/aggressive driving offences, 281 impaired driving-related offences and 348 distracted driving offences (including 266 for cellphone use).
Wearing a seatbelt reduces your risk of being injured or killed in a crash by about 50 per cent. Yet, it is clear that people are still not buckling up and lives continue to be lost. In 2015, improper or non-seatbelt use contributed to a total of 17 deaths and 194 injuries in the province, with 73 of those injuries being children under the age of seven.
SGI reminds parents and caregivers to ensure a child’s booster seat is the right size, and is adjusted and installed properly. Attend a free SGI car seat clinic or book an appointment with a car seat technician in your community to learn how to do it correctly.
Police continue to focus on vulnerable road user safety throughout April, so remember to #LookOut for people walking and riding.
Visit SGI’s website at www.sgi.sk.ca for more information about occupant safety. Follow SGI on Facebook and Twitter for safety tips to #TakeCareOutThere.
