Buckle-Up
"I wasn't going very far..."
Make changes, not excuses.
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.
Seat Belt Facts
- In Alberta, wearing a seatbelt is required by law.
- Seatbelts save about 1,000 lives per year in Canada.
- If you do not buckle up - you become a deadly weapon to others in the vehicle.
- Seatbelts are the single most cost-effective life-saving device we have to protect us in a motor vehicle collision.
- Child safety restraints are required by law for children under the age of six who weigh less than 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
- A child under 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and one year of age is 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 not required by law in Alberta. Drivers must ensure children aged 6-15 or who weigh more than 40lbs wear a seat belt. However, booster seats are highly recommended because they help position a child so the shoulder-lap belt fits across the child's chest and hips, rather than their neck and stomach.
- 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.
Source: Government of Alberta Transportation
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Last edited: February 14, 2022