Statistics
It takes seconds to buckle up and a lifetime to make up for a loss.
The use of occupant restraints reduces the likelihood of sustaining an injury
and the severity of injury decreases as well. Research and collision
investigations show that seat belts increase the chances of survival in a
collision by 50 per cent. According to Transport Canada, almost 40 per cent of
drivers and passengers killed in collisions were not wearing their seatbelt at
the time of the crash.
Facts to Know
In Alberta, wearing a seatbelt is required by law.
In Alberta the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $115. Drivers are also responsible for the proper restraint of children under 16.
Passengers are not exempt from the consequences of fines, injuries or deaths resulting from not wearing a seatbelt.
Occupants using a restraint reduce the likelihood of sustaining an injury and the severity of injury decreases.
Seatbelts save about a 1000 lives a year in Canada.
Seat belts distribute the force of a collision evenly to the stronger parts of a person’s body. In a crash, a vehicle traveling 50 kilometers per hour comes to an abrupt stop in 1/100th of a second. At 50 kilometers per hour, an unrestrained person, weighing 80 kilograms (176 pounds), will strike whatever they hit first with a force of 2,785 kilograms (6,215 pounds).
Airbags only function properly if the occupant is restrained in a proper position by a seat belt. Airbags deploy at an explosive speed and can cause injury if occupant is not properly positioned.
Vehicles are designed with an engineered life space which can withstand the force of most impacts. Seatbelts keep occupants in this space where they are safest.
In a collision, one unrestrained occupant increases the risk for all occupants in the vehicle. An unrestrained occupant may hit something or someone inside the vehicle; or they may be thrown from their vehicle into another object.
Child safety restraints are required by law for children under 6 years old who weigh less than 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
A child under 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and one year of age are safest in a rear facing child restraint seat. Be sure to consult the owner’s manual for guidelines.
Forward facing child restraint seats should have shoulder straps that originate above the shoulders and should not have a back lower than the middle of the child’s ears.
Booster seats are recommended for children under the age of 9 years old, 18 to 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or 145 centimeters (58 inches).
Without a booster seat, a child is four times more likely to suffer a significant injury or to suffer a head injury in the event of a collision.
Children under the age of 12 are safest in the back seat of a vehicle in proper restraints based on their age, height and weight.