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Seat Belts
Where can I find information on the use of seat belts on Prince Edward Island?On July 1, 1987, the use of seat belts became mandatory for all drivers and vehicle passengers in Prince Edward Island with some exceptions. The purpose of mandatory legislation is very simple. Seat belts save lives and legislation is the most effective means to increase seat belt use. Even the most outspoken opponents of mandatory seat belt legislation agree that when properly worn, seat belts do work to save lives.
Responsibilities of Vehicle Owner
- must not remove seat belts from the vehicle (except for maintenance or if the seating position has been removed)
- must replace broken, worn out or previously removed seat belts
- must maintain seat belts in good condition
- must not modify a seat belt in any way that will reduce its effectiveness
- must use available seat belt
- must make sure all passengers under 16 years of age wear available seat belts
- must make sure every child is secured in appropriate infant or child safety seat
- must use available seat belt
As with so many social issues which affect our daily lives, there are always differing points of view. For those who feel this legislation infringes on their human rights, we would ask them to consider the following:
- Laws exist to protect the individual and society as a whole and they exist to be enforced. Mandatory seat belt legislation is designed to protect vehicle occupants whether or not they are at fault. You have the right to expect that people using roads and highways will take all reasonable precautions against injuring you physically or financially. Roads belong to the public and are built with tax dollars. Children have the right to expect their parents to do all they can to ensure their safety and to protect themselves from potential dangers.
- Possession of a driver's license is not a right. It is a privilege to drive a motor vehicle in Prince Edward Island and in every other province in Canada. Those who abuse the privilege can expect that their license to drive will be taken away for a period of time.
Air bags are safety devices that protect the head and upper body from injury in a collision. They prevent the driver's head from hitting the steering wheel and the front passenger's head from striking the dashboard. While airbags save many lives each year, they do not protect in all kinds of crashes. They deploy in frontal impacts only and not in rear-end collisions, side impacts or roll-overs. They may also deploy in low speed collisions - sometimes as low as 15 kilometers per hour.
Seat belts, on the other hand, protect the entire body and are effective in all types of collisions. In low and moderate-speed impacts, seat belts alone provide all the protection a person really needs.
Air bags are most effective in high-speed crashes where they are often necessary to prevent serious injury. Together, seat belts and air bags offer good protection in most collisions, as long as the passenger compartment is not extensively crushed.
Air bags cushion the head as it moves forward after an impact; however, they expand with explosive speed - more than 300 kilometers per hour - and they open faster than the blink of an eye. As a result, a deploying air bag can cause injuries. While most of these injuries consist of minor bruises and abrasions, some can be serious or even fatal.
Exemptions for Seat Belt Use
- a driver of a vehicle which is travelling in reverse
- a passenger when all available seating positions with seat belts are occupied
- a fireman while in or on a vehicle of a fire fighting organization
- a medical attendant in an ambulance transporting a patient
- a person while engaged in work which requires that person to leave or enter the seating position at frequent intervals
To whom does the occupant restraint legislation apply?
All drivers and passengers.
If my car has air bags, must I use a seat belt?
Yes. You must use seat belts in a car with air bags.
If my car is a pre-1971 model and the seat belts have been removed, must I reinstall them?
No. All vehicles 1971 and newer are equipped with seat belts.
The seat belts in my vehicle are not working. Must I have them repaired?
Yes.
The air bags in my vehicle are not functional. Must I have them repaired?
No, but it is strongly recommended that you do.
Seat belt use is mandatory for driver and passengers. This also applies to out-of-state/province drivers. Noncompliance fine, minimum $50; maximum $100.
Contact
Alberton
Charlottetown
Montague
O'Leary
Souris
Access PEI Souris - Johnny Ross Young Services Centre
Summerside
Tignish
Wellington
This information has been taken from www.gov.pe.ca