03/07/2014

20% Of Children Not Wearing Seatbelt

One in twenty children in Northern Ireland travelling in the back of a car were not wearing a seat belt in 2014, according to a new report.

The Northern Ireland Survey of Seat Belt Wearing 2014 shows that 7% of those aged 5-9, 4% of those aged 1-4, 3% of those aged 10-13 and one child aged under one year were unrestrained when travelling in the back of a car.

Back seat wearing rates remain higher for children than for adults, the report said, with 8% of adults having been observed travelling in the back unrestrained.

The wearing rate for back seat passengers continues to be lower (94%) than that of both drivers and front seat passengers (98%).

98% of all car occupants used a restraint in 2014 compared to 91% in 2005.

94% of back seat passengers wore a restraint in 2014, similar to 2013 and up 13 percentage points from 81% in 2005.

98% of male and 99% female drivers were restrained in 2014.

1% of drivers in 2014 were observed using a mobile phone, which is the same as reported for 2013 and 2012.

(IT/MH)

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The number of people wearing seat belts in Northern Ireland has increased over the past year, figures have revealed. According to the yearly survey commissioned by the DoE, 91% of drivers and 90% of passengers were recorded as wearing a seat belt for the year April 2003-04, an increase of 1%.
16 January 2007
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Drivers must put children in restraints and seat belts where fitted, from next month or face stiff fines. Department of the Environment (DOE) Minister David Cairns said: "Most parents make sure they put very small children into baby seats. But as children get older some are put straight into adult seat belts, which are just not suitable.
02 August 2013
5% Back Seat Passengers Don't Wear Seat Belt
Five percent of backseat passengers in Northern Ireland's cars do not wear a seat belt, according to a new report. The Northern Ireland Survey of Seat Belt Wearing shows that, overall, wearing rates in 2013 remain high at 98%. However, it found that back-seat wearing rates are lower, at 95%.