March is seatbelt enforcement month and the local RCMP is reminding the public of the importance of seatbelt safety.

Corporal Troy Savinkoff with the Cochrane RCMP says that buckling up remains the simplest and most effective way to stay protected if you are in an accident. He says the rules aren't new, but unfortunately, far too many people still choose not to buckle up.

"There's so many reasons why you should wear a seatbelt, and that should go for if you're driving one block or 20 kilometres," says Savinkoff. "It's really important to have that muscle memory down that it's just automatic."

Last year over 3,000 motorists across the province were pulled over for seatbelt-related offences. Over 3,000 adults and more than 100 children were found to be improperly restrained while in a vehicle.

Savinkoff says that in the event of a collision being properly restrained is going to make the difference of having minor injuries or a tragic fatality.

"Obviously intersection-related collisions where people are getting T-boned and the most common are single-vehicle rollovers where for whatever reason people drive off the road and the car rolls," says Savinkoff. "Those are a lot more common than people think."

Drivers are responsible for making sure that all vehicle occupants are using proper restraints. Savinkoff says that the fine for seatbelt infractions in Alberta is $162.

"At the end of the day, it's not about the fine it's about the compliance," says Savinkoff.  "Unfortunately if we can't educate you by telling you that it's safe, then we'll have to educate you with the fines. Being a police officer for as long as I have I've been to many fatalities and there have been several that I believe if a seatbelt was worn, they absolutely would have walked away from a collision versus them dying as a result of their injuries."

The RCMP will be out in full force this month ensuring that seatbelt laws are being followed.