A simple click can save your life

Police officers are firsthand witnesses to the consequences of vehicle collisions. This month, Alberta RCMP would like to remind motorists that the simple act of buckling up will drastically increase your chances of surviving a collision.

Last year, 1 in 3 fatal collisions in RCMP jurisdiction included at least one person not using safety equipment such as a seatbelt or a helmet. According to Alberta Transportation, in 2015, drivers and passengers who failed to buckle up were ten times more likely to sustain a fatal or major injury than those who used a seatbelt at the time of collision.

“There is simply no excuse,” says Supt. Gary Graham, Officer in Charge, Alberta Integrated Traffic Services. “Seatbelts and child seats are so simple to use and have been proven to increase your chances of surviving a serious or fatal collision by 50%.”

“There is still a small group who don’t buckle up because they are only driving a short distance,” says Rick Gardner, Superintendent, Alberta Sheriffs Traffic Operations. “I would like to remind them that collisions can happen anywhere and at the blink of an eye so whether you are driving to work or to a nearby corner store, remember to buckle up.”

In 2017, Integrated Traffic Units issued 14,181 tickets to drivers and passengers in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions for seatbelt and occupant restraint violations. This January, 639 tickets have been issued for the violation. Quick Facts:

• At the moment of impact, unbelted occupants become projectiles that can hit fellow passengers or ejected from the vehicle, endangering other motorists.

• In Alberta, it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure all passengers under the age of sixteen (16) are properly secured with a seatbelt or a child safety seat.

• A child is safest staying in a rear-facing child safety seat until he or she is at least two years old or reaches the maximum weight or height limit of the rear-facing seat as stated by the manufacturer.

Integrated Traffic Units consists of RCMP and Alberta Traffics Sheriffs working together in a collaborative effort to deliver effective and efficient traffic safety services to Albertans, with a focus on identified enforcement priorities.