The Ontario Provincial Police laid a total of 5,585 seatbelt-related charges across the province from April 14-22 during a week-long spring seatbelt campaign.

The good news is there were no seatbelt-related fatalities during the campaign, but eight people were injured in collision in which seatbelt non-compliance was a factor, according to the OPP.

“Despite the fact that seatbelt legislation has been around for over 35 years and has saved countless lives, one in four deceased occupants last year (2011) were not properly restrained, OPP Provincial Commander for Traffic Safety, Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, said in a press release. “Not just this week, but every week, motorists can expect a zero-tolerance approach to seatbelt violations.”

Buckle up - it takes just a few seconds and one click of a seatbelt to significantly reduce the chances of serious injury or death in a crash, Beechey said.

In 2011, 71 Ontarians lost their lives in collisions in which seatbelt non-compliance was a factor.

Non-use of seatbelts remains one of the four major causes of persons killed in fatal motor vehicle collisions along with speeding, impaired driving and driving while distracted.

The motoring public should remain aware that, as part of its Provincial Traffic Safety Program, the OPP will continue to aggressively enforce all traffic safety laws throughout the year, including seatbelt legislation.

Posted by Arron Pickard