WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local police laid 110 charges over the Easter long weekend.
From April 2 to 5, Wellington County OPP officers took part in a province-wide seatbelt campaign.
“Members of the Wellington County OPP were out on Wellington County roadways over the Easter Long weekend conducting enforcement and monitoring traffic to help ensure that safe driving practices were maintained by all road users,” stated Sergeant Darryl Porterfield of the Wellington OPP Traffic Management Unit.
“We are pleased to see that the vast majority of drivers are making a conscious effort to drive in a safe manner.”
Officers laid a total of 110 charges during the traffic safety campaign:
- 27 for failing to properly wear a seatbelt;
- 71 for speeding;
- seven for distracted driving;
- three for stunt driving; and
- one each for careless driving and failing to yield.
“Particularly concerning is the 27 drivers and occupants charged for not wearing seatbelts,” stated Porterfield.
“Mandatory usage of seatbelts has been the law for 45 years. Statistics have shown that 92.8% of drivers and occupants do wear their seatbelts.
“Yet, unbelted drivers and passengers are still vastly over represented in fatal and serious injury collisions.”
Porterfield concluded local police remain “committed to strict enforcement of our provincial seatbelt laws.”
Ontario results
Across the province the OPP responded to three road fatalities, one off-road vehicle death and laid about 1,500 seat belt charges during the Easter long weekend seat belt campaign.
“Lack of seat belt use was reported in all three of the road fatalities, while losing control was the primary cause in the off-road vehicle death,” police stated.
Police say that across Ontario the OPP conducted close to 8,000 traffic stops “aimed at educating drivers and passengers about seat belt use and the critical role it plays in saving lives when collisions occur.”
