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RCMP check stop finds most vehicles have car seats installed wrong

Last Updated Jul 19, 2017 at 12:40 pm MDT

PHOTO. Supplied. A check stop in Fort McMurray, Alta finds that the majority of vehicles do not have car seats installed properly. STOCK IMAGE.

The Wood Buffalo and Safe Community Wood Buffalo conducted a car seat check stop in Fort McMurray on July 15th, 2017.

During the two hour check stop 30 vehicles were stopped and 87 per cent of them were found to have one or more car seats that were non-compliant with safety regulations.

Only four were allowed to leave with minor corrections.

Prior to each vehicle departing, the staff participating ensured that all car seats were correctly installed and followed safety regulations.

“It was quite a staggering realization,” said childhood injury prevention coordinator, Lesley Pearcey. “It was very well received even with tickets being issued.”

Car seat infractions could lead to a $155 ticket and police offers can actually ticket per infraction, so if the car seat or harness strap is too loose or not tethered, multiple tickets could be issued for one car seat.

Pearcey notes that safety and education is the RCMP’s priority

FreeĀ car seat information sessions

Wood Buffalo Safe Communities with St. John Ambulance, hosts free car seat information sessions once a month.

“It’s not about the ticket or how many tickets they can write. It is about the information because if people attend the information session I facilitate they can have their fines waived for the ticket and they won’t have to pay them,” said Pearcey.

The session covers allĀ stages of car seats from infant to toddler, up to booster seats and seat belts.

“We cover all of the best practices and legal requirements with regards to travelling with children in motor vehicles,” said Pearcey.

Following the session, Pearcey also does car seat inspections and participants will get demonstrations on proper installations for the different stages of car seats.

All sessions are held at the Redpoll Centre, in Shell Place at MacDonald Island Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Upcoming dates are:

  • Wednesday, July 26, 2017
  • Thursday, August 17, 2017
  • Tuesday, September 12, 2017
  • Thursday, October 19, 2017
  • Wednesday, November 22, 2017

To register for an upcoming session, contact St. John Ambulance at (780) 743-0991.