By Nigel Maxwell

Traffic safety

SGI encouraging drivers to “click it”

Jan 31, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Police and representatives from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) will be on the lookout next month for drivers who fail to buckle up

SGI’s February traffic spotlight is on occupant restraints — seatbelts and car seats. During 2018’s Traffic Safety Spotlights, police reported more than 4,700 offences for failing to wear a seatbelt or not using the appropriate car seat for kids. Car seats clinics in Prince Albert are run by Parkland Ambulance. Spokesperson Lyle Karasiuk said one of the common mistake they see parents make, is loosening car seat restraints because a child has a heavy winter jacket on.

“If you don’t leave the straps exactly where they were, when the child was wearing just a light sweater, all that fabric has to be compressed with the child’s body weight as they are moving forward in order to be stopped safely,” he said. “Simply put it’s a hazard.”

Karasiuk said his best advice to parents is to unzip the snow suit, expose the shoulders, and let the chest straps be right up close with the shoulders and chest. Karasiuk also reminds parents the province has mandatory booster seat legislation for children under seven years of age, less than 145 cm in height and weighing less than 80 lbs. The penalty for a child not being improperly restrained is a $175 ticket and also costs the recipient three points under the Safe Driver Recognition program.

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“Often parents think once their kids get to school, their child has outgrown their car seat. Lots of kids can be small, can be big, they come in all shapes and sizes,” Karasiuk said.

Parkland Ambulance does not offer car seat clinics over the winter months, but Karasiuk said parents who have questions can contact them and make an appointment.

In addition to small children in car seats, SGI also reminds drivers they are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 16 are buckled up. It’s estimated that half of all kids under the age of eight in Saskatchewan aren’t properly restrained when they’re in a vehicle.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell