Seatbelts Save Lives

Lethbridge Police, alongside law enforcement agencies across Alberta, will be focusing on occupant restraint use throughout March.

SEATBELTS:

• Drivers and passengers must wear an occupant restraint
• It is the driver's responsibility to ensure children aged 6 to 15 (or children younger than 6 who weigh more than 18kg/40lbs) are wearing a seatbelt
• Seatbelts must be worn properly adjusted and securely fastened. Seat belts must not be removed from the vehicle or modified
• Learner and probationary (i.e. GDL) drivers must not have more passengers than there are seatbelts

CHILD RESTRAINTS:

• It is the driver's responsibility to ensure children younger than 6 who weigh 18kg/40lbs or less are in a properly installed child restraint
• Occupant restraints must meet Canadian standards

EXEMPTIONS (though use is still strongly recommended!):

• Seat belts and child restraints are not required:
  • in vehicles not designed or equipped with seat belt assemblies by their manufacturers
  • in vehicles being used in the course of making deliveries and being driven at 40km/h or less
  • in vehicles being driven in an authorized municipal parade
  • by a person who has a letter from a qualified medical practitioner certifying that person cannot use a seat belt or child restraint due to medical reasons or physical characteristics
• Child restraints are not required (but are still recommended!) in:
  • taxis
  • emergency vehicles
  • vehicles rented/leased for 14 days or shorter 

PENALTIES:

• $211 fine (a recent increase of $49!)
• GDL drivers will also receive 2 demerit points if they drive with more passengers than there are seat belts

LEARN MORE:

• Federal standards: 
  • Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Safety Regulations
    
    
• Provincial rules:
  • Vehicle Equipment Regulation (Part 5)
  • Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation (Division 4) 

Seatbelts save lives. Make sure everyone in your vehicle is properly secured — every trip, every time.