Manitobans most conscientious seatbelt wearers: study

Manitobans have become some of the most conscientious seatbelt users in the country, according to a Transport Canada survey.
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) responded to the survey results by saying it will not relax its efforts to convince all Manitobans they should use vehicle restraint systems properly.
“Certainly we thank and congratulate Manitobans for becoming more safety conscious, and we’re pleased that Manitoba is now among the leading provinces for seatbelt use with 90.3% buckling up in rural Manitoba and 92.4% in urban areas,” MPI’s vice president of corporate public affairs John Douglas said. “You have to wonder why there are even a few people who still don’t use them, when there is so much dramatic proof that seatbelts save lives.”
Douglas attributed Manitoba’s rise in seatbelt use to a number of factors:
In 2003 the provincial fine for not wearing a seatbelt jumped from $100 to $230. Two demerit points for infractions were imposed.
New and continuing awareness initiatives are graphically depicting what can happen to an unrestrained occupant in a crash. In addition to running a new advertising campaign, MPI is touring the province to demonstrate its roll-over simulator, which shows first-hand how unbelted bodies can be ejected from a vehicle. More than 45,000 Manitobans saw the demonstrations last year.
Rural community seatbelt checkstop programs are encouraging seatbelt use.
Since 2003, RCMP and municipal forces have increased enforcement.
Conducting in September 2004, the Transport Canada survey is part of the National Occupant Restraint Program. The federal-provincial partnership aims to achieve a minimum rate of 95% in seatbelt usage and the proper use of child restraints by 2010.
“We believe Manitoba can reach and exceed that rate well before the target date,” Douglas said. “We will be doing everything we can to make that happen. Greater safety pays dividends in lives and dollars, and there are few safety measures that are simpler and more effective than the proper use of seatbelts and child restraints.”
About 130 people die on Manitoba roads each year, and about half of them are not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. “Clearly you have a much greater chance of being seriously injured or killed if you’re among the 10% of Manitobans who don’t wear seatbelts than you do if you’re among the 90% who get the message,” Douglas said.