The National Occupant Restraint Program (NORP 2010) is an important element of Road Safety Vision 2010 – an ambitious partnership approved by the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for transportation and highway safety to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world. The objective of the National Occupant Restraint Program is to achieve a minimum 95% rate for national seat belt use and the proper use of child restraints by all motor vehicle occupants. Transport Canada’s contribution to this program of promoting seat belt use is to conduct observational surveys. In September 2009, Transport Canada conducted an observational survey of seat belt use in rural communities across Canada. Then, in September 2010, the same survey was conducted in urban communities. Data on cell phone use by drivers were also collected. The September 2009 and September 2010 surveys measured the seat belt usage separately in rural Canada and urban Canada. Rural Canada includes towns with a population of fewer than 10,000 but more than 1,000 inhabitants that are located outside any census metropolitan area or census agglomeration1. Urban Canada includes communities with a population over 10,000, plus those communities with a population of less than 10,000 that are located within a census metropolitan area. The rural survey targeted all occupants of light-duty vehicles, which included passenger cars, light trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The survey, which occurred over the week of September 15 to 21, 2009, involved 252 sites. Each observation period was two hours long and took place during daylight hours (between 7:30 a.m. and 18:30 p.m.). A total of 22,642 vehicles and 30,831 occupants were observed during the course of the survey. The urban survey targeted all occupants of light-duty vehicles, which included passenger cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs. This survey, which was conducted over the week of September 15 to 21, 2010, involved 286 sites. Each observation period was two hours long and took place during daylight hours (between 7:30 a.m. and 18:30 p.m.). A total of 74,475 vehicles and 98,540 occupants were observed during the course of the study. Therefore, during the two surveys, a total of 97,117 vehicles and 129,371 occupants were observed at 538 sites across Canada. (Author/publisher)
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