How to Wear a Seatbelt Properly

About 92% of front seat passengers wore their seatbelt in 2024. We need to worry about the other 8% because over half of the crash deaths in 2023 involve vehicle occupants that were not wearing a seatbelt. People in rural areas are less likely to wear a seat belt compared to their municipal neighbours.

ICBC no longer publishes data on how many crash victims were not wearing a seat belt. Despite this, police in B.C. issued 9,048 tickets for occupant restraint violations in 2023.

Seatbelts are still your first line of defence in a collision and here is how to wear them properly:

	This person is wearing the seatbelt correctly. lap belt low and snug across the hips shoulder belt over the shoulder and across the chest The strong bones of the hips and shoulder are best able to resist the restraining forces during a collision.
	This person is not wearing the seatbelt correctly! in a crash you would move forward too much possible facial injury from striking steering wheel or dashboard decreased airbag effectiveness The shoulder belt should fit against your body!
	This person is not wearing the seatbelt correctly! severe injury to the liver and spleen may result increased chance of head and neck injury too much collision force is applied to the ribs Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm!
	This person is not wearing the seatbelt correctly! the full width of the belt is required to spread the collision forces across the body Never wear a twisted belt!
	Reclining while the vehicle is moving is dangerous! possible neck injury from the shoulder belt possible internal injury from the lap belt possible to slide out from under the seatbelt Never recline your seat when moving!
	The best way to protect the baby is to protect the mother! Always wear your seatbelt properly when you are pregnant!

Seatbelt Tickets

A traffic ticket for not properly wearing a seatbelt in British Columbia is $167.00. There are no penalty points assessed.

Medical Exemption

Section 220(5)(b) of the Motor Vehicle Act that allowed for an exemption from wearing a seatbelt on medical grounds was repealed in 2010.

Child Restraints

Division 36.09 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations provides the possibility of a medical exemption from being required to use a child restraint for a driver who:

(d) who is in possession of and produces on request to a peace officer a valid and subsisting certificate issued by a medical practitioner certifying that the child is unable for medical or physical reasons to wear or be fitted into an infant or child restraint system, booster seat or seat belt assembly, including a child who does not fit within the specifications of any manufactured infant or child restraint system or booster seat that is available for purchase,

Guidelines

All exemptions will be considered in reference to Section 17 of the Guide to Physicians in Determining Fitness to Drive a Motor Vehicle. This is a publication of the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.

Learn More

• Section 220 MVA - Seat Belt Assembly
• Division 32 MVAR - Seat Belt Exemptions for taxi drivers, police and sheriffs
• Division 39 MVAR - Must sit on securely installed seat in passenger compartment

The seatbelt graphics on this page are © General Motors of Canada and have been used with permission.

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