No. H004/06
For release February 28, 2006
OTTAWA - The latest results of two Transport Canada surveys show more
Canadians than ever using seatbelts.
The number of vehicle occupants using seatbelts across Canada has risen almost
four per cent over the past year to 90.5 per cent (compared to approximately 87
per cent in the last survey), according to the results of the 2004-2005 surveys
of seatbelt use.
In rural areas, the rate of seatbelt usage for all occupants is 86.9 per cent
and, in urban areas, it is 91.1 per cent.
"While the percentage of occupants wearing seatbelts has increased during the
latest surveys, a significant number of Canadians continue to put themselves at
risk by not wearing their seatbelts," said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "I strongly encourage the travelling
public to wear their seatbelts and exercise caution at all times to reduce even
further injuries and the possible loss of life."
The surveys measured the seatbelt usage rate separately in rural and urban
areas. Rural Canada was defined as towns with a population of less than 10,000
but more than 1,000, while urban Canada was defined as communities with a
population over 10,000, including communities with a population of less than
10,000 that are located within a metropolitan area. Both surveys targeted all
the occupants of light duty vehicles including passenger cars, pickup trucks,
minivans and sport utility vehicles.
Transport Canada conducted the surveys in support of the National Occupant
Restraint Program 2010, which aims to increase seatbelt use by Canadians. The
program's goal is to achieve a minimum of 95 per cent seatbelt usage and proper
use of child restraints by 2010. It forms an important component of Road Safety
Vision 2010, a national plan of action endorsed by the Council of Ministers
Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, and other key road safety
stakeholders, to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.
In these latest surveys, a total of 123,898 vehicles and 176,969 occupants were
observed at 515 sites across Canada. The next seatbelt survey is planned for
September 2006. Future surveys will provide Transport Canada with comparable
data that can be used to detect trends and issues in seatbelt usage.
The surveys are available on Transport Canada's road safety website at
www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp2436/rs200601/menu.htm.
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Contacts:
Robert Greenslade
Acting Press
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 990-6140
Anne-Marie Bouchard
Secretary Communications
Transport Canada
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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