Local members of the Provincial Police will be cracking down on seatbelt use this long weekend.
OPP say seatbelts are proven to save lives in a collision, and officers will be out ensuring full compliance the next couple of days.
Statistics show that in 2021, lack of seatbelt use was a factor in eight fatal collisions in our region.
This is up 300 per cent from 2016, when there were two fatalities because someone was not buckled up.
Last year, 61 individuals were ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt on OPP-patrolled roads in the North West Region.
Penalties for not following the rules include a fine between $200 and $1,000 and two demerit points.
Province-wide data shows that vehicle occupants between the ages of 25 and 34 had the highest rate of fatalities, accounting for 24 per cent of the deaths.
The 15 to 24 year age bracket was the second highest group, at 22.3 per cent, followed by 35 to 44 year-olds at 13.5 per cent of those who died without wearing seatbelts.
In the North West Region, drivers compared to passengers accounted for 75 per cent of the deaths.
#SLKTOPP will be monitoring seatbelt compliance to ensure those who choose to travel this weekend arrive safely at their destination. #BuckleUp for every ride. #LongWeekend #SeatbeltSafety ^ad pic.twitter.com/B9vweluxcM
— OPP North West Region (@OPP_NWR) April 14, 2022
