Lambton OPP handed out nine seatbelt tickets during this year's Easter traffic safety campaign, down from 27 in 2019.
Cst. Jamie Bydeley said the focus of the campaign is seatbelt infractions primarily.
"With secondary focus on the remaining ‘Big 4’ which are alcohol related driving, speeding and distracted driving," said Bydeley in an email to Sarnia News Today.
Lambton OPP laid a total of 117 charges over the three days, including 64 speeding tickets, four impaired driving charges, and one distracted driving charge. That's up from 99 charges during the same weekend last year.
Bydeley said the Easter traffic initiative has been in effect for over 10 years. There were four seatbelt tickets issued in 2022 and 15 in 2021. The campaign was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bydeley said the OPP conducts these traffic campaigns in order to remind drivers of these safety issues often throughout the year, in order to reduce or eliminate tragic injuries or deaths on Ontario roadways that occur each year.
"A properly worn seatbelt greatly increases your chances of surviving a motor vehicle collision," he said. "As a driver or passenger, it is important to respect the life-saving value of a seatbelt and the proven fact that the best position to be in during a crash is securely fastened in your seat."
