Ontario fall seatbelt campaign kickoff

Toronto Police Service News Release

Media advisory Thursday, September 26, 2013, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Library open at 9 a.m. for set up, Northern District Library, main floor, program room 40 Orchard View Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario fall seatbelt campaign kickoff 3 "Ws" ... whatever, wherever, whenever you drive, every trip begins with a click

Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 7:57 AM
Traffic Services:  416-808-1900

The Provincial Seatbelt Campaign, with the full support of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, is a combined public awareness and enforcement campaign aimed at getting more drivers and passengers to buckle up. Using seat belts is the single-most-effective way to reduce vehicle-related injuries and fatalities by ensuring that occupants remain within the vehicle and in their seats.

It is estimated that five lives are saved for every one per cent increase in seatbelt use in Ontario every year.

The fall seatbelt campaign will focus on drivers who fail to secure children safely.

The potential consequences for not using seat belts or not using them correctly include:
- loss of life
- serious injury
- demerit points against your licence
- financial penalties

The fall campaign will run from Thursday, September 26, 2013, until Friday, October 11, 2013. The kick-off for this event will take place at Northern District Library, Main Floor, Program Room, 40 Orchard View Boulevard, Toronto.

Anyone wishing to attend is advised to arrive early. Some of the partners attending this event are the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Toronto Police Service (TPS), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), York Regional Police (YRPS), Toronto Public Library System (TPLS).
The launch event will consist of three parts:

1) Media event/Photo-Op - Parliamentary Assistant to interact with students/deliver speech

2) Story-Telling (grades 2, local schools)- road safety-related story (told by librarian, title TBC)

3) Deputy Program (grades 2, local schools - run by safety traffic officers, OPP and Toronto Police, York Police - TBC)

Objective: to educate students on proper use of seatbelts and booster seats.

Constable Sarah Diamond, Corporate Communications, for Constable Clint Stibbe, Traffic Services