More males are dying on Ontario’s roads because they’re less likely to wear seat belts, say provincial police.
“Our data suggests a strong presence of male drivers and male passengers who believe that they are at a lower risk of being involved in a collision than other people, and who do not see a need to wear a seat belt,” said Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes.
“This attitude works against our efforts to save lives on our roads.”
A total of 332 people have died in crashes on OPP-patrolled roads from 2011 to 2015 — just 71 were females.
OPP data during the same timeframe also reveals more than three times as many unbuckled drivers (252) died in collisions as unbuckled passengers (80).
“Ontario’s roads are among the safest in North America and it is everyone’s responsibility to keep them that way,” said Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Yasir Naqvi.
An OPP spring seat belt campaign is running this Easter long weekend.
Officers are conducting enforcement and educating drivers about other negative road user behaviours, including aggressive driving, driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol and distracted driving.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 332 deaths from 2011 to 2015
- 261 males
- 71 females
- 9 children have died because they weren’t properly restrained in the vehicle.
(Source: OPP)
-Kelly Roche
qewsouthpost.com 