Manitoba Public Insurance

Occupant Protection > Seat Belts

Statistics

Results of a Transport Canada 2000 seat belt survey indicates that increased use of seat belts in Canada has resulted in an estimated 4,900 lives saved, 100,000 injuries avoided, and $8.4 billion in social and health costs saved.
Collision data for Canada shows that over 40 percent of vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.
Research indicates that males aged 18-24 are admittedly the least likely drivers to use seat belts. In this category, non-users generally understand and realize the importance of wearing seatbelts, but often forget to wear them or are simply negligent. This group is more likely to be swayed by peers and social norms.
Police reports and surveys indicate that light trucks (pickups) are the most common vehicle driven by non-users.

Seatbelt usage chart

Studies show that 25-45 year old non-users have a more hardened attitude towards non-use and are not likely to be easily swayed in their behaviour. Their primary source of influence is family and loved ones.
In the 18-24 year old category, non-users generally understand and realize the importance of wearing seatbelts, but often forget to wear them or are simply negligent. This group is more likely to be swayed by peers and social norms.
Manitoba Public Insurance's Child Car Seat Checks showed that on average 80 per cent of child car seats were not installed properly or had children secured incorrectly.
Front-facing (59 percent) and booster seats (57 per cent) were more likely to have children secured incorrectly than rear-facing seats (49 per cent).

NOTE: The most recent seat belt statistics are available from Transport Canada.