This release was issued under a previous government.
Despite the fact that 95 per cent of Albertans wear their seatbelts, there were 532 unbelted fatalities in Alberta between 2007 and 2012, almost 20 per cent of whom were men aged 18 to 24. Putting your seatbelt on can reduce the chance of fatal and serious injury by more than 50 per cent.
“It’s surprising that so many Albertans still aren’t buckling their seatbelts, despite being well aware of the often deadly consequences. I urge everyone to buckle up, if not for themselves, then for their loved ones.”
Five per cent of Albertans not wearing their seatbelts represents the equivalent of two cities the size of Red Deer not wearing their seatbelts – that is 200,000 Albertans risking their lives.
Occupant Restraint Facts
- Seatbelts save about 1,000 lives per year in Canada.
- Properly used, seatbelts can reduce fatal and serious injury by 45 to 65 per cent depending on type of vehicle and seating position.
- In Alberta, the law requires that all occupants travelling in a motor vehicle use a seatbelt or child safety seat that is properly worn and adjusted.
- Seatbelts distribute the force of a collision evenly to the stronger parts of a person’s body. In a crash, a vehicle travelling 50 km/h comes to an abrupt stop in 1/100th of a second. At 50 km/h, an unrestrained person, weighing 80 kilograms (176 pounds) will strike whatever they hit first with a force of 2,785 kilograms (6,215 pounds).
- The fine for not using a seatbelt or child safety seat is $115.
- Drivers are responsible to ensure that all passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured using either a child safety seat or seatbelt. Drivers may be fined for each unrestrained passenger under the age of 16.
- Child safety restraints are required by law for children under the age of six who weigh less than 18 kilograms (40 pounds).