Defensive Driving Begins with a Click: The Truth About Seatbelt Safety
This article examines the vital role of seatbelt use in promoting road safety, emphasizing both legal obligations and the real-world consequences for drivers and passengers. With a particular focus on child restraint requirements and defensive driving practices, it offers practical guidance and evidence-based insights for drivers at every experience level. Whether you are new to the road or a seasoned motorist, this article points out that wearing a seatbelt is not merely a habit but a life-saving act of responsibility.
Motolani Lawson
4/24/20254 min read
Whether you are driving for the first time or have years of experience, one important safety rule remains the same: always wear your seatbelt. It is more than just a habit. Wearing a seatbelt is a key part of responsible, informed, and defensive driving.
The law is clear: Make Safety a Priority.
“All drivers and passengers must wear the complete seatbelt assembly, where a seatbelt assembly is provided, unless exempted by law.” — Manitoba Driver’s Handbook, 2025
Why Wearing a Seatbelt Matters: The Numbers Don’t Lie
In Manitoba, the law is unambiguous:
Wearing a seat belt includes ensuring:
The belt fits snugly across your hips and shoulder.
It lies flat and untwisted.
It stays over the shoulder, not tucked under the arm (a dangerous mistake that increases injury risk).
And for drivers: you're responsible for every minor in your vehicle. That’s not just a legal responsibility—it's a moral one too.
According to Transport Canada:
Seatbelts reduce the risk of death and serious injury in a crash by about 50%.
In 2020, 36% of fatally injured drivers and 37% of passengers in fatal crashes were not wearing seatbelts.
Although seatbelt use among front-seat occupants rose to 97% in 2016–2017, by 2020, nearly 35% of individuals fatally injured in motor vehicle collisions and close to 15% of those seriously injured were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
These figures represent more than just numbers, they reflect lives that might have been saved.
Being a safe driver is not just about watching what others do. It also means making smart choices in your car. Wearing your seatbelt correctly and making sure that your passengers, including those in the back seat, are properly strapped in is your first and most powerful line of defence in a crash.
It keeps you in control. Without a seatbelt, you can be thrown from your seat, making it impossible to steer or brake.
It protects against internal collision. In a crash, your body keeps moving at the car’s speed until something stops it—often the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield.
It prevents ejection. Drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts are 30 times more likely to be ejected during a crash. Ejection is almost always fatal.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Seatbelts save lives and help prevent injuries, but lots of people still don’t wear them every time they get in the car.
Defensive Driving Starts with You
Why it matters:
A child not in a car seat or seatbelt can become a projectile in a collision—even at low speeds.
In a crash at just 50 km/h, the force can throw a child with the same impact as falling from a three-storey building.
Unrestrained children in front seats are at serious risk of head, neck, and chest injuries—even more so if airbags deploy.
A Note on Children and Seatbelts
A 2006 study on child safety seat use in Canada found that while nearly 90% of children aged 0 to 9 were restrained, only 60.5% used a seat appropriate for their age and size (Snowdon et al., 2009).
According to the MPI Driver’s Handbook, all children must be properly secured in an appropriate child car seat or booster seat based on their age, weight, and height, and must use seatbelts once they are able to do so safely.
Drivers are legally responsible for ensuring that every child passenger is properly secured using a seatbelt or an approved child safety seat that meets current safety standards. Never place a rear-facing car seat in a seat with an active airbag, as this can cause serious injury. Whenever possible, buckle children into the centre of the back seat—the safest position in the vehicle.
Automatic seatbelt assemblies (those that slide into place when the door shuts) should never be used to secure a child in a car seat or booster. Always follow your car’s manual and use proper child restraints. This is not just for safety; it is required by law.
Unrestrained children are at extreme risk in a crash.
The laws are there to protect them, but the responsibility starts with us—parents, guardians, and drivers.
How a Seatbelt Works
The structure and conponents of a seatbelt are engineered safety systems designed to protect you in a crash. When worn correctly, it:
Spreads force across the strongest parts of your body (your hips and chest), helping to reduce injury.
Keeps you in place, preventing you from being thrown forward or out of the vehicle during a collision.
Works with your vehicle’s safety systems, like airbags, to provide maximum protection.
However, be aware that seatbelts only work if you use them the right way.
Therefore,
Don’t remove or disable any part of the seatbelt system. Every component plays a role in your safety.
Don’t wear it loosely or tuck it under your arm. This increases your risk of serious injury.
Don’t rely on airbags alone. Airbags are designed to work with seatbelts—not replace them.
Wearing your seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe. It helps build a culture of road safety for everyone. No matter how short or long the trip, always take a moment to buckle up—and make sure everyone else does too. It’s more than just a habit. It’s a life-saving action.
Proper restraint fulfills legal requirements and also greatly reduces the risk of serious injury or death in a crash.
Buckle Up—Every Time
Make sure children are securely buckled-in using an appropriate seatbelt or child safety seat.
Use a seatbelt properly
