Partnership urges motorists to ‘belt up’

News from our partners West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership 

For most of us, the legal requirement to wear seatbelts has just been something we have all grown up with.  It has been the law for drivers and front seat passengers to wear their seatbelts since 1983, with rear passengers under 14 being required to wear them by law since 1989 and adult rear passengers since 1991. 

The Safer Roads Partnership, and Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police are taking part in a Europe-wide campaign from 11 March to 17 March to encourage motorists to belt up.  The vast majority of people habitually ‘belt-up’ as soon as they get into a car; but many people, especially those travelling in the back, admit that they sometimes don’t for short journeys. 

According to a recent Depatment for Transport study into the use of seatbelts, the 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 seatbelt use is typically seen. 

Recent analysis has shown that, nationally, seatbelts were found to be about 60% effective at preventing fatal injuries and about 32% effective at preventing serious injuries.  If everyone in the UK wore a seatbelt, it is estimated that over 350 lives and 1,000 serious casualties could be saved a year.  Further research reveals that 30% of motorists claim to know someone who doesn’t use a seatbelt in the back of the car, with 19% 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.” 

Superintendent Lee Davenport of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police commented:

“Enforcing the law on seatbelt use will be the primary focus for this campaign, and our officers are fully committed to supporting this throughout all areas in Warwickshire and West Mercia.  Seatbelts are an effective means of reducing serious injuries and fatalities, and anything we can do to increase their use has got to be a positive step.” 

For more information or advice about car seats and seatbelt use, visit http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/    http://think.direct.gov.uk/seat-belts.html. 

Further information 

• Drivers and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts in the front and back of vehicles are breaking the law
• Drivers caught without a seatbelt face on the spot fines of £60.  If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500.
• Drivers are responsible for ensuring children under the age of 14 are correctly restrained.  Passengers over the age of 14 are themselves responsible.