For the vast majority of people, snapping on a seatbelt before driving is as natural and obvious as putting the key in the ignition.
Yet despite the fact about 95 per cent of Albertans comply with the law, not wearing a seat belt is still a factor in a disproportionate number of serious injuries and fatalities.
Both St. Albert and Morinville RCMP will be out in force this month checking to make sure drivers and passengers are properly strapped in to their seats, as part of a province-wide enforcement blitz on this particular issue.
Bruce Adams, the capital region traffic safety consultant with Alberta Transportation, explained while compliance with Alberta’s seatbelt law is around 95 per cent, it’s important to keep driving home the message – especially with young drivers.
“We still have challenges with young males between the ages 18 to 25 with regards to wearing their seatbelts, for whatever reason,” he said. “Through our focus groups they’re telling us they don’t think it’s cool to be wearing their seatbelts.”
Those same focus groups, however, are suggesting that when a driver puts on a seatbelt, the passengers will typically follow suit.
“Once again it’s coming back to driver behaviour, taking that responsibility on yourself to ensure your safety,” Adams said.
The fact seatbelts can save lives is a story borne out by the statistics.
Between 2010 and 2014, 358 who died in collisions weren’t wearing their seatbelts. Adams said that represents roughly one fifth of the total fatalities on Alberta’s roads in any given year. He estimates that amount of serious injuries and fatalities could be reduced by about half if everyone buckled up.
In St. Albert, it’s an issue police continue to take very seriously. Cpl. Tim Gaultois, with the St. Albert Traffic Services unit, said police have already conducted several check stops looking for seatbelt violations and there are more planned for the rest of the month.
“We’re going to try to curb it a little bit this month, and child safety seats as well,” he said.
He noted most of the people police see not wearing seatbelts are in a younger demographic, and also with people who are just making short drives such as commercial drivers of one type or another.
But he emphasized it doesn’t matter how far you’re driving, or where you’re driving, properly using the safety restraints is nonetheless crucial.
“You can just as easily get hurt within city limits as on the highway,” Gaultois said.
Morinville RCMP Cpl. Sheldon Robb said Mounties will be out in force within that detachment as well, since they continue to see drivers and passengers without seatbelts, particularly out in the more rural areas of the detachment.
And it’s not something where you’re likely to get off with a warning.
“It is a serious thing,” he said. “When we see it we lean more toward violation tickets than warnings.”
The fine for not wearing a seatbelt in Alberta is $155, and drivers are responsible for making sure their passengers under age 16 are also buckled up.
