NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Wellington County Detachment alongside our other policing partners will be participating in the Ministry of Transportation Provincial Seatbelt Campaign which runs, Sept. 27, 2017 and ends at midnight on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. During this time, the OPP will increase their visibility throughout the province to ensure that motorists are wearing their seatbelts and that children are properly restrained.
Road fatalities on OPP patrolled roadways are up this year with 221 victims to date Sept. 22, 2017, compared to 213 last year. Sadly, 92 people lost their lives in crashes on OPP-patrolled roads in July and August, marking the highest number of road deaths in eight years over the two-month period.
Inattentive-related road fatalities (58) are again outpacing those that fall into the other three main causal factor categories (known as the Big Four). A total of 54 of the 221 fatalities are speed-related, 29 are alcohol/drug-related, while deaths attributed to lack of seat belt use also sit at 29.
Seatbelt tips
Do:
- wear your seatbelt so that it crosses your chest and your lower hips - these areas of the body are better able to resist the force of a crash
- make sure you have one working seatbelt for every person in your vehicle
If you're pregnant, you still need to wear a seatbelt. You should:
- wear both the lap and shoulder belt
- sit as upright as possible
- wear the lap belt low so it pulls downward on your pelvic bones and not across your stomach
Do not:
- wear any part of your seatbelt twisted - a twisted seatbelt won't spread the force of a crash across your body to protect you properly
- put the shoulder strap under your arm or behind your back
Air bags do not take the place of a seatbelt. They won't prevent you or your passengers from being thrown out of your car, and they can also injure children.
If safety alone isn't enough to convince you remember that non-compliance draws a fine of $200 and two demerit points.
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