Require Seat-Belts for All Passengers

Dear Minister,

In light of the tragic crash in Ottawa this past Saturday that took the life of a 13-year-old boy, the Canada Safety Council (CSC) is pleased to hear that you will review legislation relating to seat-belt use. Subsequent to that incident, CSC staff members responded to numerous enquiries from both the media and the public.

We are aware that under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, there are no restrictions on the number of passengers who can ride in a vehicle; if all seat-belts are in use, additional passengers are legally allowed to go without. We consider this to be a loophole and a contradiction, and, as such, a threat to public safety. Current legislation in Quebec limits the number of passengers to the number of seat-belts in a vehicle.

Wearing a seat-belt can mean the difference between life and death. National restraint use surveys show that about 90 percent of motorists in urban areas and 85 per cent in rural areas wear seat-belts. That means between 10 and 15 percent are unbelted. Yet almost 40 percent of motor vehicle fatalities in this country were not wearing seat-belts at the time of the crash. In 2003, this 40 percent figure accounted for over 1,000 of the 2,700 who died in motor vehicle collisions. According to Transport Canada every percentage point increase in seat-belt use results in 23 fewer deaths and 515 fewer injuries nationally each year. As you are aware, Canada’s national objective is 95 percent seat-belt use by all occupants, as well as 95 percent proper use of child restraints by 2010.

We encourage your Ministry to act at the very earliest in reviewing seat-belt use in the province. We strongly recommend that current regulations should be amended to limit the number of passengers who can ride in a vehicle to the number of seat-belts.

The Canada Safety Council would be pleased to assist your officials in this quest to improve traffic safety in Ontario.

Sincerely,

Emile-J. Therien,
President , Canada Safety Council