Northumberland OPP took part in a special traffic safety initiative over the Labour Day weekend, resulting in a large number of charges against motorists.
The officers were busy on highways, waterways and trails conducting numerous foot patrols, vessel checks, and Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) check points.
They responded to 228 calls for service, along with traffic enforcement that yielded numerous charges in support of the OPP’s Provincial Labour Day Long Weekend Traffic Safety Initiative.
There were 104 speeding, as well other infractions.
They focused on seatbelt enforcement, resulting in 62 charges.
The majority of charges were from rear seat passengers who were found to be wearing the belts improperly or were not wearing them at all.
These included young children and infants not safely secured, or they were wrongfully held in the arms of another passenger.
Police say drivers are responsible for ensuring children not big enough to use a seatbelt must be in an appropriate car seat or booster seat.
Northumberland OPP issued a statement, in part below:
Young children and infants were among the many passengers not safely secured, with some not secured at all or were being held in the arms of another passenger.
In Ontario motor vehicle drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt that is properly adjusted and securely fastened. Drivers are also responsible for ensuring any children who are not big enough or old enough to use a seatbelt are secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat.
If one person decides not to wear a seatbelt, you and others in the vehicle are also at risk of serious injury. A seatbelt keeps you inside the vehicle during a collision and without a seat belt, passengers become high-speed projectiles.
The Northumberland OPP would like to remind drivers and passengers that it only takes a few seconds to buckle up. A properly worn seat belt greatly increases your chances of surviving a motor vehicle collision.
A review of important safety practices for drivers, including seatbelts, child car seats and booster seats, can be found at www.mto.gov.on.
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