The deaths of 347 unbuckled vehicle occupants in OPP investigated collisions over the past five years have police looking at a province-wide fall seat belt campaign.
Between 2011 and 2015, the OPP investigated more than 360,000 fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle collisions.
Officers have had to rescue thousands of victims amid the wreckage.
Even a low-speed crash can cause injuries and not wearing a seat belt is a game changer when it comes to your chances of surviving a crash and reducing the severity of your injuries.
“Every year, our officers tend to crash victims of all ages who are not buckled in at the time of the collision. More often than not, they die as a result of being ejected, partially ejected or from the physical trauma they sustained inside the vehicle. Fortunately, our officers have also witnessed numerous victims survive their ordeal as a result of being restrained in their seat," says OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair.
So far this year 40 people have lost their lives in collisions when not wearing their seat belt.
During the OPP’s 10-day campaign, officers will be conducting enforcement and education that focuses on seat belt laws.
Between 2010 and 2014, 76 percent of those who died in seat belt-related deaths were males.
Over the same five-year period, males between 25 and 34 years old accounted for the highest number of seat belt-related deaths. Women in the same age group accounted for the highest number of deaths among the female victims.
