Saskatchewan RCMP is reminding drivers to pay attention to properly securing youngsters in vehicles. Drivers have a legal obligation to make sure children are safe when travelling.
In its weekly communication, RCMP stated the Combined Traffic Services (CTSS) has identified 198 children under the age of 7, as well as 49 children between the ages of 7-15, as not having been properly restrained using seatbelts or child restraints during traffic stops. The infractions resulted in charges.
Of the children under the age of 7:
- 142 were not using a car seat or booster seat;
- 46 were not restrained properly (were not harnessed by all car seat fasteners or did not have the shoulder portion of the seatbelt overtop of their shoulder);
- 16 children were in car seats that were improperly attached to the vehicle;
- 26 children were located in one of the front seats. This is particularly hazardous due to the sudden nature of an inflating airbag, which can severely injure small children in collisions; and
- 29 various seating issues were observed, including 11 children standing up in vehicles, 3 sitting at the edge of a seat, and 2 sitting in the driver’s lap. One child was thrown forward while the vehicle was stopping for the traffic stop due to the absence of any seatbelt or child restraint.
RCMP urges motorists to protect young passengers. They advise children 12 and under to be safest in the back seat of a vehicle in proper restraints based on their age, height, and weight. All child passengers should be buckled up. You can be fined $175 if a child under the age of 7 isn’t in an appropriate car or booster seat, or if a passenger under the age of 16 is not buckled up.
Learn more about car seat requirements at https://www.sgi.sk.ca/carseats and booster seat requirements at https://www.sgi.sk.ca/booster-seatbelt.
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