Canada’s home, car and business insurers strongly support amendments to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act dealing with seat belts.

The amendments were announced in the legislature yesterday to plug a legal loophole following a horrific crash that killed four people. Passengers in Ontario will no longer be allowed to crowd into vehicles that have too few seatbelts.

“We applaud Minister Donna Cansfield for taking swift action to address this serious road safety concern” said Mark Yakabuski, vp, federal affairs and Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada. “As an early proponent of the first seat belt laws in Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada is proud once again to support the latest enhancements to this landmark legislation.

“Ontario’s road safety record is the envy of the world precisely because of forward looking legislation like the amendments introduced today. We are confident that today’s changes will help prevent further injury and death on our roads and we fully encourage the Legislative Assembly to enact the bill as quickly as possible,” added Yakabuski.

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents more than 90% of the non-government home, car and business insurance in Canada.