Ontario provincial police say they still find it difficult to sell the benefits of using a seat belt to some drivers, and the worst offenders are those for whom the law has always been. Police said that between 2012 and 2021, 542 people lost their lives because they did not fasten and the vehicle they were riding in crashed. The number was 47 last year. Seat belt use became law in Ontario 46 years ago, in 1976, but police still enforced nearly 1,000 seat belt categories so far this year. Drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 had the highest death rates. They accounted for 24 percent of these deaths. People between the ages of 15 and 24 accounted for 22.3 percent of those deaths, while 13.5 percent were between the ages of 35 and 44. While seat belts have proven effective in saving lives over and over again, the OPP said those caught not wearing them had some interesting excuses. One common myth is that they are not necessary for short trips or low traffic trips, while another is that seat belts can trap a passenger and aggravate injuries. Others said they felt uncomfortable. For those who believe that airbags make seat belts unnecessary, OPP suggests otherwise. “An airbag that opens in front of or next to an unbuttoned driver or passenger can lead to serious injuries and even death,” police said. In all, there were 315 road deaths patrolled by OPPs last year, up 3% from the previous year. Speed-related deaths were at a ten-year high with 81 deaths. OPP will look for drivers and passengers who do not click on the Easter weekend.
