2022 seatbelt safety blitz results in big spike in charges over 2021

Tim Brody - Editor

Ontario Provincial Police conducted a seatbelt safety campaign over the Easter long weekend (April 15-18) and say the results prove, “that not wearing a seatbelt continues to be a serious problem on our roads.”
Police shared that across northwestern Ontario, 329 seatbelt-related charges were laid over the Easter long weekend compared to 37 in 2021. This represents a 611 percent increase in seatbelt-related charges year over year.
Police say this includes charges for driver and passenger non-compliance, as well as ten charges for drive while child not properly secured. 
The breakdown of seatbelt-related charges by detachment is as follows:

• Dryden - 37;
• Rainy River - 27; 
• Greenstone - 15;
• Kenora - 27;
• Marathon - 10;
• Nipigon - 4;
• Red Lake - 4;
• Sioux Lookout - 10;
• Thunder Bay - 129; and
• Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Officers (North West Region-wide) - 60.

Drivers are reminded that they are required by law to ensure they have proper (and properly installed) child car seats for babies, toddlers and small children.