SGI wants to get the message of vehicle occupant safety out to residents around the province, and so they are focused for February.

Drivers and passengers, young and old...they feel everyone should practice their due diligence in safety habits.

Some key points include:

  • adults setting a good example
  • parents and guardians ensure proper safety restraints, depending on the age of the child
  • that drivers are responsible for passengers 16 years old and younger

Kelly Brinkworth with SGI said, "That means for adults, wearing your seat belt every time you get into a vehicle."

She added, for children and babies, "Just making sure that you have your kids properly secured. So whether they need to be in a car-seat or a booster seat, just that you do have them in the appropriate seat for your child."

There are four car seat stages for children:  rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seat, and finally, a standard seat belt.

Being that children are smaller and not developed enough, they require a proper seat safety system, so that the belts in vehicles fit across them safely.

A good tip is to check to see that the seat belt fits securely across the middle of the shoulder and across the hips for all passengers, child or adult.

The improper use or a lack of seat belt or car seat contributed to 17 deaths in the province in 2015, while on average, 46 unbelted occupants die each year on Saskatchewan roads.