All-Wales Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign Begins
Since the introduction of seatbelt laws in the UK, tens of thousands of lives have been save by the simple act of belting up. Nevertheless, every day a small minority of people are risking travelling in a vehicle without using this vital safety device.
Police officers enforce seatbelt laws throughout the year and during the current all-Wales enforcement campaign efforts will be stepped-up to remind drivers and their passengers that non-compliance is not acceptable.
Drivers are also legally responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 14 are using the correct child restraint for their height and age, or the adult seatbelt if they are over 135cms tall or over 12 years old.
Those caught flouting the law face a minimum fine of £100 or up to £500 if taken to court.
Seatbelts are designed to retain people in their seats during a crash. In a collision, they ensure that contact between the occupant, the vehicle interior, and other occupants is as minimal as possible, so using a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of being thrown from a vehicle.
When used correctly seatbelts and child car seats are highly effective in protecting vehicle occupants, greatly reducing the risk of being fatally or seriously injured in a road traffic collision.
Wearing a seatbelt correctly:
- The seatbelt should be worn as tight as possible, with no slack
- The lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach
- The diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck
- Nothing should obstruct the smooth movement of the belt by trapping it
For more information on the seatbelt law visit www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law
Child Car seat advice can be found at www.childcarseats.org.uk
