Ontario Seatbelt Laws

What are the laws in Ontario for wearing seatbelts?

In Ontario, all vehicle occupants must wear seatbelts:

• Drivers must ensure passengers under 16 wear seatbelts.
• Confirm that every person in the vehicle has access to and uses a functioning seatbelt.
• Passengers 16 and older are responsible for their own seatbelts.
• Children under 8, weighing less than 36 kg, or shorter than 145 cm, need a child car seat or booster seat.

The most recent laws for seatbelt safety were passed to keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. Section 106 of the Highway Traffic Act covers the laws regarding seatbelts in the province. Here is a look at the key points:

Seat belt assembly must not be removed or altered

106. (1) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle in which a seat belt assembly required under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) at the time that the vehicle was manufactured or imported into Canada has been removed, rendered partly or wholly inoperative, modified so as to reduce its effectiveness or is not operating properly through lack of maintenance.

Use of seat belt assembly by driver

(2) Every person who drives on a highway a motor vehicle in which a seat belt assembly is provided for the driver shall wear the complete seat belt assembly as required by subsection (5).

Use of seat belt assembly by passenger

(3) Every person who is at least 16 years old and is a passenger in a motor vehicle on a highway shall,

(a) occupy a seating position for which a seat belt assembly has been provided; and

(b) wear the complete seat belt assembly as required by subsection (5).

Driver to ensure young passenger uses seat belt assembly

(4) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle in which there is a passenger who is under 16 years old unless,

(a) that passenger,

(i) occupies a seating position for which a seat belt assembly has been provided, and

(ii) is wearing the complete seat belt assembly as required by subsection (5); or

(b) that passenger is required by the regulations to be secured by a child seating system or child restraint system, and is so secured.

What is the fine for not wearing a seatbelt in Ontario?

If convicted of failing to wear a seatbelt, you could face fines ranging from $200 to $1,000, along with two demerit points added to your driving record.

Additionally, you can be fined for having a broken seatbelt, even if it is not in use when stopped by a police officer. Getting a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt can increase your rates.

How are drivers responsible for seatbelt safety?

As the driver of a vehicle, it is crucial to adhere to the following safety measures:

• Ensure that you, as the driver, always wear your seatbelt while operating the vehicle.
• Confirm that every person in the vehicle has a functioning seatbelt and uses it.
• Ensure that passengers under 16 are wearing their seatbelts correctly and securely.
• Ensure children are properly secured in a child car seat or booster seat suitable for their age, weight, and height.

Passenger roles in seatbelt safety

Passengers are also responsible for seatbelt safety by ensuring their own seatbelts are fastened properly and by reminding others to buckle up.

• Ensure that their seatbelt is fastened correctly, with the lap belt snug across the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest.
• Passengers, especially adults, play a role in modelling safe behaviour for others in the vehicle, particularly for children or younger passengers.
• They are responsible for children and should ensure they are properly secured in age-appropriate car seats, booster seats, or seatbelts.
• Passengers can remind others in the vehicle to buckle up and ensure that everyone is wearing a seatbelt before the vehicle starts moving.

How to wear a seatbelt properly

Wearing a seatbelt properly is crucial to protecting yourself and others. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. When wearing your seatbelt, ensure that it is positioned to cross your chest and lower hips. These areas of the body are better able to resist the force of a crash.
2. It's important to check that the seatbelt is not twisted anywhere, as this could affect its effectiveness in a collision.
3. The shoulder strap should never be positioned under your arm or behind your back.

If you are pregnant

If you are pregnant, it's important to sit as upright as possible and wear both the lap and shoulder belt. When wearing the lap belt, position it low so it pulls downward on your pelvic bones, not across your stomach. These measures are important for your safety and the safety of your unborn child while travelling.

Young children

Research indicates that children under 12 are safest when sitting in the back seat of vehicles, away from active airbags. If the back seat is unavailable, children can sit in the front seat only if there is no active airbag for the front seat or if the front airbag can be switched off.

Are there any exemptions for wearing a seatbelt?

There are a few exemptions to the seatbelt rules, according to the Ontario.ca website, such as:

• Individuals with medical certificates indicating they are unable to wear a seatbelt.
• Workers frequently enter and exit their vehicles, provided they travel at speeds below 40 km/h.
• Persons in police custody during transport, and police or peace officers transporting individuals in custody.
• Canada Post employees and agents delivering rural mail.
• Ambulance attendants and patients in the ambulance's patient compartment.
• Firefighters riding in the rear of a fire department vehicle while responding to an emergency.
• Taxi drivers transporting passengers for hire (taxi drivers must wear a seatbelt when driving alone).
• Anyone legally driving a vehicle in reverse.
• Large commercial vehicles (weighing over 4,536 kg) that were manufactured without rear seatbelt requirements.
• Vehicles manufactured or imported into Canada before January 1, 1974.
• Vehicles that were originally manufactured without seatbelt assemblies for all seating positions.

Ontario seatbelt fines and laws FAQs

How much is a no seatbelt ticket in Ontario?

In Ontario, a violation for not wearing a seatbelt may result in a fine of up to $1,000. Furthermore, individuals may incur 2 demerit points on their driving record, potentially influencing premiums and leading to additional repercussions if these points accumulate.

Can you have more passengers than seatbelts?

Since 2006, Ontario has enforced the "one person, one belt" rule, requiring each vehicle occupant to have their own seat and safety restraint.

Is it the law to wear a seatbelt in the back seat of a car?

Yes, in Ontario, it is the law for all passengers, including those in the back seat, to wear a seatbelt. Passengers who are 16 and older are responsible for wearing their seatbelts, while drivers must ensure that passengers under 16 are properly buckled up. Failing to comply can result in fines.

Buckle up: it’s the law in Ontario

Ontario's seatbelt laws are not just about avoiding fines; they're about saving lives. The next time you get in your car, remember that wearing your seatbelt could mean the difference between walking away from a crash or suffering serious injuries. Stay safe, buckle up, and make sure everyone in your car does the same.