Don't say you weren't warned ...

CITY POLICE NEWS RELEASE

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Road safety initiatives: seat belt enforcement for the month of April

The Sault Ste Marie Police Service is committed to improving road safety for the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.

Seat belts are important part of a vehicle’s safety system, and are the single most effective way to reduce the chance of injury or death in a motor vehicle collision. 

Even if your vehicle is equipped with an air bag, if you are not wearing your seat belt you may not be in the proper position to benefit from the air bags protection. 

Air bags do not protect you from a rollover or side impact collision, your seat belt will.

The Ministry of Transportation advises “92 percent of Ontarians wear their seat belt regularly. However, the eight percent who do not wear them represent 600,000 people. It is easy to see the difference wearing a seat belt makes-for every one percent increase in seatbelt use five lives are saved”.

With this in mind, during the month of April 2012, officers from Patrol and Traffic Services with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will be conducting seatbelt checks throughout the City of Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township.

Motorists and passengers found to be in contravention of the Highway Traffic Act will be charged and face a fine of $240, and drivers also facing two demerit points.

Drivers are further advised they are responsible for anyone under 16 who is not wearing a seat belt. 

Drivers and passengers found not wearing their seatbelt are required to provide their name and address to a police officer when requested.

Officers will not only be checking for persons wearing their seat belts, but also that belts are being worn properly.

Here are some points to remember:

• Seat belts must be in proper working condition

• A seat belt won't protect you if it is not worn properly. Take a few seconds to position the lap portion of your seat belt snug to your body and low on the hips. Never wear the shoulder strap under the arm where it could damage your ribs

• A seat belt keeps the driver behind the wheel and in control in a collision. It helps keep your head and body from hitting the inside of the vehicle

• A seat belt keeps you inside the vehicle during a collision, rather than being thrown through a windshield or door onto the roadway

• Without a seat belt, passengers become high-speed projectiles in a collision.

Remember: Seat belts save lives.

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