ONTARIO-As families across the province get ready for Easter long weekend road travel, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding drivers and passengers that the safest place to be during a collision is in your seat, behind your seatbelt.
Over the weekend, the OPP will conduct a seatbelt safety campaign, hoping to see every driver and passenger buckled up rather than being handed a provincial offence notice for non-compliance with this important law.
In the last full five-year period (2019-2023), the deaths of 296 people on OPP-patrolled roads have been attributed to not wearing a seatbelt according to police.
“Attending the scene of a fatal collision is one of the most difficult calls for service that our frontline officers and emergency partners respond to. More often than not, if seatbelts had been worn, lives would have been saved. Wearing a seatbelt and ensuring children are properly restrained gives you and your family the best chance of surviving and reducing injuries if you are involved in a collision. Please buckle up.” said Thomas Carrique, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner
“Seatbelts save lives. As we head into the long weekend, I encourage everyone to buckle up to keep themselves and their families safe. The decision to wear a seatbelt can be the difference between life and death.” stated Michael Kerzner, Ontario Solicitor General.
In 2023, 67 fatalities on OPP-patrolled roads were attributed to seatbelts not being worn. and the OPP laid close to 10,000 seatbelt charges in 2023.
“The long weekend is a time to gather with family and friends and celebrate. If you’re travelling this long weekend, it’s important to remember seatbelts save lives. So, buckle up and ensure children are properly secured in the appropriate child car seats, so you and your loved ones get to your destination safely.” said  Prabmeet Sakaria, Ontario Minister of Transportation
The OPP patrols more than 130,000 kilometres of roadway and over 99,000 kilometres of waterÂways and trails throughout Ontario.
