Insurer raises concern on lack of seatbelt wearing

Motorists in rural Manitoba are more likely to forego their seatbelts while those in Winnipeg were most likely to use an electronic communication device while driving compared to their rural counterparts.

Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) commissioned a road safety observation study last fall. It found that 10 per cent of all drivers in rural Manitoba were observed not wearing their seatbelt, compared to three per cent in the Winnipeg capital region.

When it came to using an electronic communication device (ECD), the numbers were reversed — usage was three times higher in Winnipeg (10 per cent) compared to rural areas (three per cent).

Nearly 29,000 vehicles were observed in 46 towns and cities with a population of at least 1,000 for the study.

“The purpose of this study was to obtain current rates of risky driving behaviour across Manitoba, with a focus on use of hand-operated electronic devices and seatbelt use,” said Satvir Jatana, MPI’s chief customer officer. “The findings of this study will be used as a benchmark to monitor behaviour change over time and shared with the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police for the purpose of planning future enforcement and awareness campaigns.”

Driver distraction is linked to nearly 50 per cent of all fatalities and 37 per cent of all serious injuries in 2020, according to MPI data. A person is more than 50 times more likely to be killed and almost four times more likely to be seriously injured when not wearing a seatbelt.

“High-risk driving behaviours places all motorists at risk on our public roadways,” Jatana said. “This study confirmed too many drivers continue to exhibit high-risk behaviours which can easily be changed.”

Other highlights from the study include:

• Overall, 7 per cent of all drivers observed were using an ECD in some capacity
• ECD use appeared to be higher in areas with traffic lights
• ECD use is highest among younger drivers
• Overall, 7 per cent of all drivers observed were not wearing their seatbelt
• Those driving trucks had slightly higher rates of not wearing a seatbelt compared to passenger cars or vans/SUVs
• Seatbelt non-use was split between males and females
• Drivers in rural areas wore their seatbelt less often across all age groups
• In cases where the driver was not wearing their seatbelt, 54 per cent of passengers were also not wearing their seatbelt

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