It takes seconds to buckle up and a lifetime to make up for a loss.
The use of occupant restraints reduces the likelihood of sustaining an injury and the severity of injury decreases as well. Research and collision investigations show that seat belts increase the chances of survival in a collision by 50 per cent. According to Transport Canada, almost 40 per cent of drivers and passengers killed in collisions were not wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Facts to Know
• In Alberta, wearing a seatbelt is required by law.
• In Alberta the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $115. Drivers are also responsible for the proper restraint of children under 16.
• Passengers are not exempt from the consequences of fines, injuries or deaths resulting from not wearing a seatbelt.
• Occupants using a restraint reduce the likelihood of sustaining an injury and the severity of injury decreases.
• Seatbelts save about a 1000 lives a year in Canada.
• Seat belts distribute the force of a collision evenly to the stronger parts of a person’s body. In a crash, a vehicle traveling 50 kilometers per hour comes to an abrupt stop in 1/100th of a second. At 50 kilometers per hour, an unrestrained person, weighing 80 kilograms (176 pounds), will strike whatever they hit first with a force of 2,785 kilograms (6,215 pounds).
• Airbags only function properly if the occupant is restrained in a proper position by a seat belt. Airbags deploy at an explosive speed and can cause injury if occupant is not properly positioned.
• Vehicles are designed with an engineered life space which can withstand the force of most impacts. Seatbelts keep occupants in this space where they are safest.
• In a collision, one unrestrained occupant increases the risk for all occupants in the vehicle. An unrestrained occupant may hit something or someone inside the vehicle; or they may be thrown from their vehicle into another object.
• Child safety restraints are required by law for children under 6 years old who weigh less than 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
• A child under 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and one year of age are safest in a rear facing child restraint seat. Be sure to consult the owner’s manual for guidelines.
• Forward facing child restraint seats should have shoulder straps that originate above the shoulders and should not have a back lower than the middle of the child’s ears.
• Booster seats are recommended for children under the age of 9 years old, 18 to 36 kilograms (80 pounds) or 145 centimeters (58 inches).
• Without a booster seat, a child is four times more likely to suffer a significant injury or to suffer a head injury in the event of a collision.
• Children under the age of 12 are safest in the back seat of a vehicle in proper restraints based on their age, height and weight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is it time to place children in a forward facing child restraint?
Always follow the weight and height guidelines in the manufacturer’s instructions. Even if a child’s feet are touching the back of the vehicle seat in a rear facing restraint it does not mean they should be moved to a forward facing seat. In event of a collision stress to the legs is minor and the legs bend at the knees.
Can a child restraint that has been used in a collision continue to be used?
No, it is not recommended. While the child restraint may appear to be fine, there could microscopic cracks in the shell, weakened areas in the harness or seat frame and the restraint would not hold together in a subsequent collision.
Why should parents ensure their children are properly secured in booster seats?
Booster seats position the seat belt over the strongest bones in the child’s body. This helps prevent injuries that occur when the lap belt slips up across the abdomen, it also positions the shoulder belt properly to prevent injuries that occur to an unrestrained torso when the belt is behind the back and to the ribs when under the arm.
What about using an after market seatbelt adjuster?
The use of after market seatbelt adjusters are not recommended as they are not government regulated. A child that requires an after market device would be safest in a booster seat.
Should pregnant women wear a seatbelt?
Yes, seatbelts are the best protection for both mother and unborn child. Pregnant women should sit as upright as possible with the shoulder belt across their chest above the belly, and the lap belt low so that it pulls downward on their pelvic bones and not on their abdomen.
Don’t wait until a collision happens, it may be too late.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is it time to place children in a forward facing child restraint?
Always follow the weight and height guidelines in the manufacturer’s instructions. Even if a child’s feet are touching the back of the vehicle seat in a rear facing restraint it does not mean they should be moved to a forward facing seat. In event of a collision stress to the legs is minor and the legs bend at the knees.
Can a child restraint that has been used in a collision continue to be used?
No, it is not recommended. While the child restraint may appear to be fine, there could microscopic cracks in the shell, weakened areas in the harness or seat frame and the restraint would not hold together in a subsequent collision.
Why should parents ensure their children are properly secured in booster seats?
Booster seats position the seat belt over the strongest bones in the child’s body. This helps prevent injuries that occur when the lap belt slips up across the abdomen, it also positions the shoulder belt properly to prevent injuries that occur to an unrestrained torso when the belt is behind the back and to the ribs when under the arm.
What about using an after market seatbelt adjuster?
The use of after market seatbelt adjusters are not recommended as they are not government regulated. A child that requires an after market device would be safest in a booster seat.
Should pregnant women wear a seatbelt?
Yes, seatbelts are the best protection for both mother and unborn child. Pregnant women should sit as upright as possible with the shoulder belt across their chest above the belly, and the lap belt low so that it pulls downward on their pelvic bones and not on their abdomen.
Visit KeepinBabySafe.ca for more information on scheduled times to have your car seat inspected around Calgary.
