Tough seatbelt campaign has saved lives

The tough approach to enforcing seatbelt laws in the car has saved many lives, according to a PSNI spokesman.

The firm line was taken last year after statistics revealed Northern Ireland had the worst road casualty rates in the UK.

Last July, the then RUC announced that it would be showing less understanding of drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts and that it would issue £30 fixed penalty fines to code violators. In the following months up to December 31, the police handed out almost 5916 fixed penalty tickets – that compares with 3600 for the same period in 2000.

Inspector Brian Kee, PSNI Road Development Branch, said that the aim of the tougher stance was to help save lives and reduce serious injury: “We have no doubt that seatbelts save lives. While police officers still have the option to administer advice and warning, this will remain the exception. Rather someone who is stopped not wearing a seatbelt – and this doesn’t just mean the driver – is likely to receive a £30 fixed penalty notice. Remember – No Seatbelt, No Excuse.”

The seatbelt campaign has been run in conjunction with a series of hard-hitting TV advertisements produced by the DoE themed on: ‘No Seatbelt – No Excuse.’

PSNI statisitics show that of the 5916 seatbelt violations, 5577 were adults and 339 were children – of whom 277 were unrestrained in the back seat.

It has been against the law to not wear a seatbelt in the front seat since 1983 and in rear seats since 1993.

Government agencies believe that up to 20 lives a year could be saved on the roads if seatbelt laws were rigidly enforced.

(GMcG)