Seatbelts have been law in Saskatchewan since 1977, and yet every month officers have to hand out tickets to people who aren’t wearing them. That’s why January’s Traffic Safety Spotlight from SGI and Saskatchewan police is seatbelts.

SGI spokesperson, Tyler McMurchy says there is a mountain of scientific evidence that seatbelts save lives, and not wearing one significantly increases the chances you will be serious injured, or worse, if you are involved in a collision. In 2021, one-third of vehicle occupant deaths in the province involved a person who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. McMurchy suggests if using a seatbelt isn’t a part of your everyday routine, perhaps it could be your New Year’s resolution.

Bonus tip from SGI: In addition to ensuring that passengers are properly restrained, are the objects in the passenger compartment of your vehicle adequately secured? In the event of a collision or a rollover, anything not strapped down can become a projectile with the potential to injure the people in the vehicle. (Think about your travel mug, your kid’s tablet or the pair of skates in the backseat.)