Seat Belt Safety

• A typical seat belt consists of a lap and shoulder belt. The shoulder portion of the belt must be worn closely against the body and centered across the shoulder and middle of the chest, never under the arm. The lap portion of the belt must be snug against the body and across the hips, not the stomach. Make sure your seat belt isn’t twisted.
• In Ontario, every person travelling in a vehicle must wear a seat belt or use a child car seat.
• One seat belt per person: Never double up with two people sharing one seat belt.
• Wearing your seat belt properly will dramatically increase your chance of surviving a motor vehicle collision.
• Children under the age of 13, regardless of their size, are safest in the back seat of the car away from the airbags.
• While airbags will help protect you during a collision, you still need to wear a seat belt as well.

• Child car seats and/or booster seats are required for children up to the age of eight who weigh between 18 kg to 36 kg (40-80 lb.) and who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet 9 inches) tall.
• Drivers are responsible for ensuring any children under age 16 who are not big enough or old enough to use a seat belt are secured in an appropriate child car seat or booster seat.
• Properly installed child car seats and booster seats can significantly reduce the chance of children getting hurt and/or killed in a collision.
• For additional information on child car seats, including booster seats, visit ontario.ca/carseats

In Ontario, each person travelling in a motor vehicle must wear a seat belt or use a child car seat. Drivers face a fine if they (or anyone in the vehicle under age 16) is not wearing a seat belt or secured in a proper child seat. The penalty for a seat belt or child car seat infraction includes a fine of up to $1,000, and convicted drivers receive two demerit points.