Officers from the Sudbury and Espanola OPP Detachments will be fully engaged with the Fall Seatbelt Campaign initiative. This year’s safety initiative will begin Wednesday, Oct. 1 and conclude on Sunday, Oct. 12.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “The 95 per cent Challenge” with the objective being to have 95 per cent of all drivers and passengers in Ontario wearing a seatbelt by 2010. This strategy complements Transport Canada’s Road Safety Vision 2010 — an initiative designed to reduce deaths and injuries on Canada’s roads.
As of Sept. 28, 233 people have died in collisions on OPP patrolled roadways this year. Fifty-five of those deaths were as a result of occupants not being properly secured in either a seatbelt or child restraint.
Compared to the same time last year, the number of fatalities due to seatbelts/child restraints has dropped 43.9 per cent.
It takes less than five seconds to fasten your seatbelt, a police press release stated. “That one quick and easy act could save your life in a serious crash.”
During the 2007 Fall Seatbelt Campaign, Sudbury OPP detachment investigated one fatal collision where two people were killed. “There is an excellent chance they would have survived if they had been wearing seatbelts,” the press release stated.
Sudbury and Espanola OPP officers also checked a total of 5,792 vehicles, charged 28 drivers and six passengers for not wearing their seatbelt, along with one child seat charge. Having a properly installed child safety or booster seat can reduce the likelihood of death or serious injuries by as much as 75 per cent.
Not buckling up carries a fine of $110 and two demerit points.
