This month SGI is reminding drivers to buckle up as their June traffic safety spotlight is focused on seatbelts and child restraints.

Manager of Media Relations for SGI, Tyler McMurchy stresses the importance of seatbelt safety.

"When they are in their vehicle they need to be properly restrained. It's one of the quickest, easiest things they can do to reduce their chance of a severe injury or death resulting from a collision."

 McMurchy provides some statistics regarding this month's spotlight.

"We saw in about 14% of all traffic fatalities in the province in 2019, the person killed was not wearing a seatbelt or were not buckled in properly. And there is probably not 14% of people not wearing seatbelts but there still are quite a few people who aren't wearing them and that's evident by the between 300-600 tickets that we see typically issued every month by Saskatchewan Police."

Drivers caught not wearing a seat belt or having improper child restraints can face a $175 ticket as well as 3 demerit points off their license.

Child seats are mandatory for all children in Saskatchewan who are:

· Under age 7

· Less than 145 cm (4’9”) in height and

· Under 36 kg (80lb.) in weight.

SGI recommends that children remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 9 kg (22 lb) and shouldn’t transition to a booster seat until they are at least 18 kg (40lb). Child seats are not one-size-fits-all so be sure to check the manufacturer’s sizing instructions before you make the change. Children 12 and under should always sit in the back, away from where the front airbags deploy.