West Region OPP release long weekend seatbelt campaign results

(LONDON, ON) - Officers with the West Region OPP’s 13 detachments laid hundreds of seatbelt charges during the Easter long weekend traffic campaign.

From April 18-21, officers laid 338 seatbelt charges under Ontario's seatbelt laws. The detachment-specific numbers of seatbelt charges is below:



Last year, failure to wear a seatbelt caused, or was a contributing factor in, the deaths of 60 Ontarians in collisions on OPP-patrolled roads. Of those deaths, 26 were in West Region, alone.

Along with aggressive driving, impaired driving and distracted driving, failure to wear a seatbelt is one of the OPP's "Big Four" leading contributing factors to death, injury and property damage on the province's roads and highways.

The OPP will continue to enforce the seatbelt law in an effort to reduce the number of needless and preventable deaths in Southwestern Ontario and beyond.

“The tragic reality is that too many lives are lost every year in collisions where seatbelts could have made the difference,” says inspector Mike McConnell, West Region OPP traffic and marine manager.

"West Region OPP officers are committed to reducing these preventable deaths through ongoing education and enforcement. Buckling up is one of the simplest actions you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.”