This year's Summer Synergy included a rollover simulation that stressed the importance of wearing seatbelts.But when asked if they ever opted not to buckle up in a vehicle, many members of the audience – mostly youth – raised their hands.According to Arthur Anderson, a sergeant for Justice and Solicitor General Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, who led the presentation, many do not see the need for seatbelts when travelling through deserted roads in rural Alberta.“When I was growing up, it was very common to drive for miles and not see another vehicle,” Anderson said.“The number of vehicles in Alberta is increasing so (with) the number of vehicles on the roads today, you're going to see somebody driving when you go out for a little cruise.”Anderson was on vacation and not representing the provincial ministry but came out to help with the demonstration.He added that bad driving habits also result from reduced enforcement in the country.“Also in the rural community, they don't see peace officers very often so (they) get in the habit of not stopping for that stop sign on their way home,” he said. “Or, I'm not going to get checked so I won't bother wearing my seatbelt today.”The simulation took place on July 9 at the Olds Regional Exhibition's MegaDome as part of Summer Synergy, an annual weeklong agricultural event that brings hundreds of young people and livestock to town.Anderson said members of the Lethbridge Exhibition Park were invited by the ORE to bring their message on vehicle safety.His presentation featured a pickup truck body that would rotate on its axis with a dummy inside.Anderson spun the vehicle twice: first with the dummy strapped in and the second time without seatbelts on.He also cited some statistics on motor vehicle collisions: more than 300 deaths and 20,000 injuries each year in Alberta.“A lot of those injuries are from not wearing seatbelt(s) properly,” he said, adding the consequences reach beyond the injured person.Anderson urged the crowd to wear seatbelts not just to save their own lives but also to spare their loved ones the trouble of having to care for them after a debilitating injury.“The worst example is you're in a wheelchair and you have to be fed by a tube and you can't do anything for yourself,” he said.When asked if he thought the audience got the message, Anderson said his goal was only to convince a single person.“If we reach one person, we achieved our goal,” he said. “If everybody does their part, we can make the highways a lot safer for all Albertans.”[email protected]
