Wear a seat belt on every journey, say road safety groups

Road safety organisations urging everyone travelling in a vehicle to ensure they wear a seat belt on every journey.

The call comes ahead of a national police operation starting on Monday 12 June, targetting those who fail to belt up.

Oficial figures from the Department for Transport show that almost a quarter of all road fatalities involved vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt.

Wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement, but it should also be an automatic and logical choice for everyone travelling in a vehicle because it really can save your life. It reduces the risk of death by 45 per cent for drivers and front seat occupants, and reduces the risk of serious injury by 50 per cent.”²

Infants and children need to be protected properly on journeys. Children in cars must be carried in an appropriate child restraint from birth until they reach the age of 12 or they grow to a height of 135cm (whichever comes first). After that they must use a seat belt.

Tips for protecting young children:

Take time to ensure that every passenger uses an appropriate seat belt or restraint.
Every infant car seat model is different, and not all seats fit all cars, so do choose the best you can for the height and weight of your child.
Ensure the seat is installed correctly. Child Accident Prevention Trust figures suggest two thirds of all child seats are fitted incorrectly, with one in 10 being dabgerously installed. Follow the manufacturer’s insutructions and ask for assistance from a suitably-trained technician if you are in any doubt.
Use the child locks on the passenger doors to ensure a curious child can’t open a door from the inside.
Don’t allow children to ‘modify’ their seat belts by wearing the sholder strap under the arm, and keep an eye on children to ensure they don’t quietly unbelt when they think you can’t see.

The national two-week seat belt enforcement operation, coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, runs from Monday 12 June to Sunday 25 June.