Prince Edward Island Leads Country in Rural Seatbelt Use

The results of a new national study reveal that PEI is leading the country in terms of rural seatbelt use in 2006. The Transport Canada Rural Seatbelt Survey shows just over 95 percent of rural Islanders comply with the province’s seatbelt regulations.

“The results of this survey show the hard work of our department is paying off,” said Transportation and Public Works Minister Gail Shea. “Our numbers are up substantially over the past two years and that’s proof we’re making strides to make Island roads the safest in the Country. The Highway Safety Division and all police agencies PEI have worked hard to ensure Islanders wear their seatbelts, and I congratulate them on a job well done.”

The survey was conducted in September 2006 in communities across Canada with populations less than 10,000 that aren’t defined as metropolitan areas. It went hand-in-hand with Transport Canada’s “Road Safety Vision 2010,” an ambitious federal/provincial effort to make our country’s roads the safest in the world. That plan aims to achieve 95 percent seatbelt usage -- and PEI is already exceeding that target.

The results of the survey will be posted this week at www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety.