DriveSmartBC

This advertisement from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership reminds us why we choose to wear our seatbelts.

The majority of this issue features information on child restraints. It reinforces the idea that children secured in child restraints are safer that children secured by seat belts alone, describes what good belt fit looks like and how 60 seats rate for lap and shoulder belt fit.

Buying a set of tire chains and stowing them in the trunk without ever trying to install them might not be a good idea. The first time you will be called to use them will mean installing them in the worst of conditions and taking too long to do the task could even mean being hit by a passing vehicle.

The province of British Columbia has not yet mandated that true winter tread tires be used during the winter months on all highways. However, one can only legally operate in the ice and snow using all season or summer tires if they are not traveling on posted highways or are carrying tire chains that are the appropriate size and type for the vehicle.

The eSafety background paper examines five systems: electronic stability control, warning and emergency braking systems, blind spot monitoring, lane support systems and speed alert. Unlike passive safety system we take for granted today, seatbelts and air bags, these systems are active.

When I am not responding to column suggestions I take my inspiration from watching what is going on around me when I drive. The other day I almost turned around to warn a mother and child sitting on the concrete barrier in front of a broken down van towing a tent trailer.

This video contains scenes of a graphic nature.

A disturbing new ad campaign has started to encourage people to wear their seat belts. The Government commercial shows graphic images of the fatal damage car crashes can cause to internal organs in a bid to persuade people to belt up.

Taxi drivers in British Columbia are exempt from wearing their seatbelts if they are travelling at less than 70 km/h. I have never understood why this exemption was necessary, particularly in light of the fact that doing so actually endangers their passengers. No one in a vehicle that I drive is exempt from wearing their seatbelt and I have been able to convince my taxi driver to follow suit.

In this case Wendy Dubbin admits to not wearing a seatbelt and then attempts to have the charge dismissed. She argues that the provision of the Motor Vehicle Act which creates the offence of failing to wear a seatbelt violates her rights under section 2 and section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This traffic safety advertisement from Finland is full of subtle humour and drives home the message "Even Dummies Wear Seatbelts." I especially liked the airbag inside the nut that the squirrel smashes open. Well worth the few seconds that it takes to view!