Cornwall.ca — The Cornwall Community Police Service’s Traffic Action Plan for the month of April will consist of targeted enforcement on seat belts.

All motorists and passengers are required to wear a seatbelt. Motorists who are found to be in contravention could face a fine of $240 and two demerit points.

Infant / Child Car Seats
Infant car seats should face the back of the vehicle, rest at a 45-degree angle and move no more than 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) where the seatbelt or Universal Anchorage System (UAS) strap is routed through the child car seat. If necessary, use a towel or a foam bar (pool noodle) under the base of the child car seat to adjust the angle. Harness straps should sit at or below a baby’s shoulders. You should not be able to fit more than one finger underneath the harness straps at the child’s collarbone. The chest clip should be flat against the chest at armpit level.

When the child outgrows the maximum height and weight of his/her infant seat, you may require a convertible rear-facing seat until your child is ready to be facing forward. The law requires using a rear-facing car seat until the baby is at least 9 kilograms (20 lb.)

The law is a minimum requirement. It’s best to keep your child rear-facing until they are at least one year old or until they have reached either the maximum height or weight limits of the rear-facing seat.

Birth to 9 kg (20 lb.)
Rear-facing seat
Use away from an active airbag
To install a forward-facing car seat; fasten the tether strap, then use your body weight to tighten and fasten the seatbelt or Universal Anchorage System (UAS) strap.Ensure that the shoulder straps are at or above the child’s shoulders. Straps should be snug, with only one finger width between the strap and the child’s chest. Avoid using aftermarket car seat products. They can become projectiles or may have hard or sharp surfaces that can hurt the child in a collision.

9 to 18 kg (20-40 lb.)
Forward-facing seat
Use with a tether strap
Booster seats are required for children under the age of eight, weighing 18 kg or more but less than 36 kg (40-80 lb.) and who stand less than 145 cm (4 feet-9 inches) tall.

Pre-school to 8 Years Old
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:

• child turns 8 years old
• child weighs 36 kg (80 lb.)
• child is 145 cm (4 feet-9 inches) tall.

Seatbelts are designed to protect adults. Booster seats raise the child up so that the adult seatbelt works more effectively. Booster seats protect against serious injury 3 ½ times better than seatbelts alone.

A lap and shoulder combination belt must be used with all booster seats. Your child’s head must be supported by the top of the booster, vehicle seat or headrest. The shoulder strap must lie across the child’s shoulder (not the neck or face) and middle of the chest, and the lap belt must cross low over the hips (not the stomach/abdomen). Never use seatbelt adjusters.

Between 18 and 36 kg (40—80 lb.)
Booster seat
Use with lap and shoulder belt

Use a seatbelt for every trip and teach your child to wear a seatbelt by always wearing one yourself!

The Cornwall Community Police Service is committed to our residents through our Vision:  “A Safer Cornwall, reducing crime always”.