News Release
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The North Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind all motorists that this year’s Seatbelt Campaign will run from September 24 to October 10, 2014, and has the goal of raising public awareness about the importance of wearing seatbelts as well as educating drivers on the proper use of child car seats and booster seats.
Drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers under the age of 16 are properly secured in a seatbelt, child car seat or booster seat based on their height, weight and age. Passengers who appear to be at least 16 years of age are required to provide their name, address and date of birth to a police officer upon request.
Only one person can use a seatbelt at one time. There must be a seatbelt or child car seat for each person in the vehicle. Never carry more people in the vehicle than there are seatbelts.
Children who have outgrown their child car seat have not developed the physical characteristics and size required for adult seatbelts to be fully effective. They must use a booster seat. Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, children weighing 18 kg or more but less than 36 kg (40-80 lbs) and children who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:
- Child turns eight years old
- Child weighs 36 kg (80 lb.)
- Child is 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall
Drivers and passengers, 16 years of age or older, convicted of failing to use or improperly using a seatbelt or failing to ensure a passenger under the age of 16 is properly secured are subject to a $240 fine in addition to two demerit points for the driver.
Over 92 percent of Ontarians wear their seatbelt regularly. Wearing your seatbelt properly will dramatically increase your chance of surviving a motor vehicle collision. Take a few seconds and buckle up.
For further information visit the following websites:
