March 2010

Seatbelt Usage is Up!

Great news!  The Alberta seatbelt use survey is out, and usage rates have increased to 92.9% in 2009 from 88.9% in 2007.  Breaking the numbers down, urban rates were up to 93.3% compared to 89.3% in 2007.  Rural seatbelt usage rates were 90.4% compared 86.4% from the last rural survey conducted in 2006. 

Alberta’s rates compare quite closely with national rates from the last survey in 2006/2007 (93.1% urban, 88.3% rural, and 92.5% combined).  The lowest rate was seen in the Yukon at 82.9% and the highest in Prince Edward Island at 97.9%.

The seatbelt usage rate in the U.S. was 83% according to 2008 data.  Usage rates across the country ranged from just 55.7% in America Samoa to 97.2% in Michigan and were linked to the level of belt enforcement. 

Food for thought: According to Transport Canada, the 7% of Canadians who don’t wear their seatbelts account for nearly 40% of vehicle crash fatalities.