By rdnewsNOW Staff

Buckle Up

Alberta RCMP promotes seatbelt safety this March

Mar 4, 2022 | 12:16 PM

This month, Alberta RCMP are reminding motorists that seatbelt safety saves lives.

Mounties say the proper use of safety restraints significantly reduces the risk of serious injury and harm in the event of a motor vehicle collision.

Alberta RCMP ask that both motorists and passengers keep in mind the following when buckling up:

• Seatbelts should be worn at all times by vehicle occupants and securely fastened before putting your vehicle into motion.
• Ensure the lap belt is positioned low across your hips and the shoulder belt is always sitting across the centre of your chest.
• Do not allow the seatbelt to become twisted. The width of the belt is required to spread the force from a collision across the body (Alberta Transportation, 2017).
• Always use the seatbelts provided on off-road or recreational vehicles.
• Motorists are responsible for ensuring both themselves and passengers under the age of 16-years-old are using proper occupant restraints. The fine for seatbelt infractions in Alberta is $162.

“In 2021, 5,279 motorists were pulled over for seatbelt-related offences in Alberta RCMP jurisdiction; 5,123 adults and 156 children were improperly restrained in a vehicle,” says Insp. Chris Romanchych, Alberta RCMP Traffic Services. “We want Albertans to understand that the small practice of buckling up makes a big difference. Your seatbelt is the only thing keeping you safely restrained in a vehicle’s engineered occupant life space during impact.”

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“Unfortunately,” he added, “there have been far too many collisions in Alberta in which the simple act of wearing a seatbelt could have prevented fatalities.”

For more traffic safety information, follow us on Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and Twitter @RCMPAlberta.