Seat belt rules welcome, loopholes remain

Changes to Ontario's seat belt law, limiting the number of passengers to the number of seat belts, received unanimous support at Queen's Park. The legislation, passed expeditiously at the urging of the Progressive Conservatives, still contains loopholes, according to party leader and MPP John Tory.

Tory said clauses still exist that allow for exemptions and potential loopholes. While the PCs tabled amendments to address these, they were defeated.

It's unfortunate, Tory noted, that it took a tragedy in Caledon to pressure the government to change the law. It's a good thing for the public.

It's hard to believe such a clause wasn't in the original legislation, passed when Bill Davis was premier in 1976. Tory said he consulted Davis about this recently, who said back then may cars on Ontario roads didn't have seatbelts at all. Further, in rural Ontario, many weren't adamant about wearing their belts, contending most trips were just down the road. He also mentioned the public wasn't keen on what was deemed intrusive legislation in those days.

Tory noted changes to the law have been under consideration for some time and thankfully, were made in roughly two weeks.

Four of the 10 people in the minivan were killed in the Oct. 14 collision at the intersection of Charleston Sideroad and Mississauga Road.

Police reported the southbound minivan proceeded into the intersection, after passing a stop sign, into the path of the westbound tractor-trailer that was on the thoroughfare.

Four of the 10 passengers of the minivan were killed in the collision. The other occupants of the minivan were transported to Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto Sick Children's Hospital and the Headwaters Hospital.

The truck driver, Keith R. Coulter, 43, of Joachim, Ontario was not injured.

The female driver of the minivan, Mi Sub Song, age 46, of Etobicoke, received non-lifethreatening injuries. The other nine occupants of the minivan were visitors from Korea.

Killed were Gi Hoon Lee, 76; Mi Sook Song, 41; Mikyeong Song; 34; Chi Woo Song, 13. Other injured passengers were Heungsub Song, 39; In Wha Song, 77; Namho Cho, 6; Ha Ran Cho, 13; Gayoung Kim, 8.