Belt up or pay, say police in Warwickshire

DRIVERS and passengers who do not wear a seatbelt while travelling are twice as likely to die in a collision than those who do, research obtained by Warwickshire Police has shown.

The force is taking part in a Europe-wide campaign to enforce the message to motorists to “belt-up”.

Superintendent Adrian McGee said: “Although the European enforcement campaign runs for a week during March, seatbelt enforcement, as part of our road safety campaign to reduce death and injury on the road, is a policing priority and officers will stop a motorist if they or their passengers are not wearing seatbelts throughout the year.”

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Research has also shown that 24 per pent of rear seat passengers do not always belt up, while ten pent of those sitting in the front sometimes fail to do so. People aged 21 to 25 are most likely to be the ones to not wear their seatbelt.

The law states that people must wear one in a car or other vehicle if one is fitted. Anyone caught not doing so must pay a £60 fine, which can rise to £500 if they are prosecuted.

The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that he or she, as well all children under the age of 14 years travelling with them, are wearing a seatbelt. Adult passengers are responsible for themselves and can also face a £60 fine if they fail to belt-up.

Supt McGee said: “There is no excuse for not wearing a seatbelt. Unfortunately families and police officers see the results of people not doing so when they have been in a collision.

“If the general public were aware of the consequences of not belting up, it would be a very salutary lesson indeed for them.“

The campaign runs until Sunday March 18.