Road safety campaign highlights importance of wearing seatbelts

Buckle up!

Throughout next week, our Durham Roads and Armed Policing Team will be out across the county focusing on motorists and passengers that aren’t wearing a seatbelt.

Although most drivers are fully aware of the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt, we’ll be educating those who refuse on the dangers of ignoring the law and how their decision puts others at risk.

With many children breaking up for school today for the half term holidays, we’ll be paying particular attention to those with children in the car.

Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death for drivers by 50%, yet every week, four young people aged 17 to 29 are either killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads when not wearing a seatbelt.

Pete Tate, Durham Constabulary’s Casualty Reduction Coordinator, said: “All too often our roads policing officers deal with collision where seatbelts have not been worn, and they have had to deliver the horrendous news to a family that their loved one has been killed.

“The fact that their life may have been saved had they been wearing a seatbelt causes further heartbreak.

“Please, take that extra 30 seconds to put your seatbelt on. It could save your life.”

A reminder to all motorists:

• Drivers are responsible for ensuring suitable safety restraints are worn by all passengers under 14-years-old.
• Passengers over 14-years-old are responsible for wearing their own seatbelt and can therefore face prosecution.
• The safest way for children to travel in cars is in an appropriate car seat. Children must use an appropriate child car restraint for their weight until they are 135cm tall, or their 12th birthday.
• Failure to wear a seatbelt carries a fine of £100. If prosecuted, the maximum fine could be anything up to £500.

For more information and guidance on children’s car seats, visit www.rospa.com/road-safety/road-safety-information/vehicle-safety/car-seats