11 car crash deaths blamed on lack of seatbelts, RCMP say

New Brunswick drivers and passengers are dying preventable deathsbecause they continue to not wear seatbelts, according to new statistics released by the RCMP.

Since Jan.1, 2015, the RCMP said41 fatal car accidents in the province have killed 45 people.Of the 45 people who died in these accidents, 11 were not wearing seatbeltsand six of them were 20 years old and younger.

In one month, three teenagers not wearing seatbelts died in two separate car accidents in southeastern New Brunswick.

RCMP Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said that although mandatory seatbeltlaws have been in place for more than 30 years in the province, not everyone is getting the message.

"We see it right we know first hand that wearing a seatbelt saves lives. You're much more likely to survive a crash if you're wearing your seatbelt," said Rogers-Marsh.

"When we get to accident scenes people have been ejected from the vehicle, most times it means they weren't wearing their seatbelt, not all the time, but most times."

Rogers-Marsh said the number of fatalities related to driving drunk are comparable to the number of people dying from not wearing seatbelts in New Brunswick.

Last year,2014 showed a four-year high, with 15 people dying in traffic accidents with no seatbelts on, which was more than twice as high 2012, when only sevenpeople died while wearing no seatbelt.

National Safe Driving Week begins Dec.1.Rogers-Marsh says traffic units will be out checking for numerous infractions including use of seatbelts, impaired driving and more.