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NLIS 7
November 19, 2004
(Government Services)
Minister encourages
everyone to wear their seatbelts
Government Services
Minister Dianne Whalen is today urging people to wear their seatbelts
to increase their chances of not being seriously injured or killed in
the event they are in a motor vehicle accident.
Transport Canada released
figures today that show 17.5 per cent of front-seat occupants in this
province still do not wear their seatbelts. The province has a
compliance rate of 82.5 per cent, which is below the national average
of 87.4 per cent.
Compliance in rural
Newfoundland and Labrador is the fourth highest across the country at
86.3 per cent of front-seat occupants, slightly above the national
average of 85 per cent. In more urban areas of the province, seatbelt
use by all occupants is at 82.1 per cent, which is below the national
average of 87.2.
"Government is
concerned that people are still making a decision, after all this
time, not to wear their seatbelts when we know that it increases your
chances of survival if you get into an accident," Minister Whalen
said. "I encourage everyone to think twice and to buckle
up."
The national surveys for
2002-03 were conducted through visual checks at intersections of
passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles.
The provincial and rural figures represent front-seat occupant
compliance only, while the figures for urban areas include all
occupants. It is the first time the surveys measured seatbelt usage
separately for urban and rural areas.
Seatbelts have been
mandatory in this province since July 1, 1982. Earlier this year, the
department increased the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt to between
$100 and $500, and the loss of two demerit points. Last year, police
issued 1,680 tickets for seatbelt violations, including failure to
have a child properly secured.
"We encourage the
police to continue to strictly enforce the law and issue tickets for
failing to wear a seatbelt. People should be vigilant about this basic
safety issue and ensure all passengers, especially children, are
properly restrained."
The Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador is a partner with Transport Canada and other
agencies in the National Occupant Restraint Program, which has a goal
of 95 per cent compliance across the country by 2010.
Media contact: Tracy
Barron, Communications, (709) 729-4860 or 690-6157
2004 11
19
3:55 p.m. |
