Police issue 400 seatbelt and car seat tickets during February
Regina, SK (Mar. 23, 2018) — February’s Traffic Safety Spotlight results highlight the inexplicable fact that people not wearing seatbelts apparently is still a thing in 2018.
Police forces from across Saskatchewan reported 400 offences related to seatbelts or car seats in February. That includes everything from not buckling up, to wearing a seatbelt improperly (looking at you, under-the-armpit guy) to passengers without seatbelts, to children riding unsafely or in improper car seats.
Look, we know most people #BuckleUp, every time. If you’re one of the few people who doesn’t, know this: It makes you far more likely to die in a crash.
In 2016, 25 per cent of vehicle occupants killed in collisions in Saskatchewan were either not buckled up or improperly restrained.
And, if you think you have a good reason for not wearing your seatbelt, take another look at our “Seatbelt Excuse Smackdown” and reconsider your logic.
In addition to making sure their own seatbelts are fastened, drivers are legally responsible for making sure passengers under the age of 16 are wearing their seatbelts or in the appropriate car seat or booster seat. For each passenger who isn’t, it will cost the driver a $175 fine and three points on the Safe Driver Recognition scale. (Unbelted passengers 16 or over are responsible for their own fines).
Make sure you’re buckled properly, too: ensure the lap belt is pulled tight over your hips, not your abdomen. The shoulder belt should fit snugly over the middle of your shoulder and across your chest, and not be tucked behind you.
Not sure which seat is best for your child’s age and stage? You can attend a free car seat clinic to learn how to properly install your seat.
Other results from the February spotlight included*:
- 312 impaired driving offences (including 266 Criminal Code charges)
- 407 distracted driving offences (324 of those for cellphone use)
- 3,660 speeding/aggressive driving offences
#JustDrive – Police continue to look for distracted drivers throughout the month of March. Follow SGI on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for safety tips to #TakeCareOutThere.
* Includes all traffic safety focus results for February 2018 submitted by police as of March 21, 2018.
About SGI CANADA
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan with a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of nearly 400 motor licence issuers across the province. Customers can now do some transactions online. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.
Source: SGI CANADA
Tags: driving safety, SGI
