Occupant restraints save lives

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By Sgt. Michael Payton Senior Peace Officer

The Town of Strathmore would like to highlight the importance of occupant restraints. Buckling up is one of the simplest and smartest choices drivers and passengers can make when ensuring their safety in a vehicle.
Most Albertans understand the importance of buckling up – according to a recent survey, 97.4 per cent of Albertans use occupant restraints. However, people who choose not to wear a seatbelt are still killed and injured in collisions every year in our province.
From 2012 to 2016, there were 341 unbelted fatalities in Alberta. Nearly a quarter of those fatalities were men aged 18 to 24. During 2016, 53 people died and 375 people sustained injuries as a result of not being properly restrained at the time of the collision.
In 2016, restraint users involved in collisions had a much lower injury rate (6.8 per cent) than those not using restraints (24.1 per cent). Airbags offer additional protection in collisions, but are designed to supplement the safety features provided by seatbelts.
It is important that children are restrained properly. Without a booster seat, a child is three and a half times more likely to suffer a significant injury.
A 2017 Driver Attitude Survey indicated 95 per cent of Albertans agree that when driving or riding in a motor vehicle, one should always wear a seatbelt.
Buckling up whenever you are in a vehicle is one of the easiest and best ways to keep yourself and others safe. Always buckle up!