Drivers and passengers urged to 'belt up' in safety campaign (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Drivers and passengers urged to 'belt up' in safety campaign

11:20am Friday 8th March 2013 in News

THE Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia and Warwickshire Police are taking part in a Europe-wide campaign from Monday until Sunday, March 18 to encourage drivers and their passengers to belt up.

Many people, especially those travelling in the back, admit they sometimes do not put on their seatbelts for short journeys.

According to a recent Department for Transport study into the use of seatbelts broad characteristics that relate to non-seatbelt use are young men, rear seat passengers, goods vehicle drivers and company car drivers.

Journeys taken late at night, early in the morning or within low speed limit areas, are situations where low seat belt use is typically seen.

If everyone in the UK wore a seatbelt it is estimated more than 350 lives and 1,000 serious casualties could be saved a year.

Further research reveals that three in 10 motorists (30 per cent) claim to know someone who does not use a seatbelt in the back of the car with one in five (19 per cent) in the front.

The campaign will be a combination of raising awareness and enforcement and is being co-ordinated nationally by TISPOL (the European Traffic Police Network).

Vicki Bristow, communications manager for the Safer Roads Partnership, said: “Although most people do wear their seatbelts there are still a few that either choose not to or simply forget.

“We’re urging both drivers and passengers to ensure they wear their seatbelt at all times. Other than this being a legal requirement, it may just give them the added protection they need if involved in a collision.

“We’re also encouraging parents, carers and professional childcare establishments to check the children they are carrying in their cars are travelling in the correct size car seat and that it is correctly fitted.”

For more information or advice about car seats and seatbelt use visit childcarseats.org.uk