Belt Up - urge police

DRIVERS and their passengers are reminded to 'belt up' as figures released from Somerset Road Safety show that up to a quarter of vehicles contain at least one person who is not wearing a seat belt.

As part of Avon and Somerset Police's Operation Relentless aiming to keep road users safe on the roads, the police and local authorities across Avon and Somerset are joining a week-long Europe-wide road safety campaign, starting TODAY (Monday, March 11).

During the week, mobile patrols will be on the lookout for anyone breaking the law - sending out the message that seatbelts should be worn in all seats in all vehicles.

In the same operation in September last year, more than 300 drivers were stopped. They were all given information leaflets, advice and in some cases verbal warnings. 71 were given fixed penalty £60 fines for seatbelt offences and 24 were given the option of attending a driver education course.

Not wearing a seatbelt is one of the 'fatal four' driving offences. The others are speeding, drink and drug driving, and using a mobile phone while driving.

Chief Insp John Holt of Avon and Somerset's Operations and Roads Policing Unit said: "This seatbelt campaign is part of our on-going commitment to reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

"Most people wouldn't dream of driving even a short distance without belting up, but those who do break the law should know that we will take action against them to help make the roads safer for everyone."

Police are working together with Somerset Road Safety to raise awareness of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt, hosting a series of seminars across the county to educate people about the issue.

The seminars will provide information to those caught not wearing a seatbelt at police roadside checks.

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