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Don’t be a dummy. Belt up!
Dyfed Powys Police are leading an All Wales Seatbelt Campaign that will be launched on Monday September 10th 2007 in Llandrindod Wells in conjunction with the Powys Community Safety Partnership to remind drivers and passengers of the dangers of not belting up.
Since the law to wear front seatbelts was introduced in 1983, it’s estimated that 50,000 lives have been saved, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Although most road users are fully aware of the potential consequences of not wearing a seat belt, police officers throughout Wales will be clamping down on those who continue to ignore the law, endangering all road users.
Dyfed Powys Police Chief Inspector Phil Davies said: “Wearing a seat belt is such a simple, easy thing to do. As police officers, we see the consequences of driving without a seat belt all too often at crash scenes. While you will face a fine if you are caught without your seat belt on, the key message we are trying to get across is that wearing a seat belt really could mean the difference between life and death - and that applies just as much to passengers as it does to drivers.”
By simply wearing a seat belt, drivers and passengers can increase their chances of survival in a collision by as much as 60%.
During the last All Wales campaign in 2006, over 3,000 people were caught not wearing their seatbelt with most of those being drivers. If you travel in a car vehicle without your seatbelt on you are not just putting yourself at risk in a collision but are putting others travelling with you in danger too.
Chief Inspector Phil Davies added, “From September 2006 until June this year (since the new child seat regulations came in) we have seen 372 offences in Wales whereby children have not been safely restrained while travelling in the vehicle. I would urge parents/carers/guardians to attend the launch on September 10th to receive practical advice from a child seat expert (provided by Powys County Council) who will be available all day at ALDI car park in Llandrindod Wells. ”
The two-week enforcement campaign will run throughout Wales from September 10th to 24th 2007.
Notes to Editors
The campaign will be launched at ALDI Stores car park in Llandrindod Wells at 11am on Monday 10th September 2007.
· Drivers and adult front seat passengers in cars must wear a seat belt unless they have a medical exemption certificate. Adults travelling in the rear of a car must also use seat belts, if they are fitted. It is the responsibility of the adult passenger (not the driver) to ensure that they are using the seat belt.
· It’s estimated that 590,000 serious casualties and 1.5million injuries have been prevented since wearing front seat belts became law in 1983.
· Seat belt wearing rates are higher in rural areas (93%) than in urban areas (89%).
· Women (94%) are more conscientious than men (86%) at wearing a seat belt.
Source: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
1967: New cars in the UK must be fitted with front seat belts by law.
1968: UK requires retrofit of 3-point belts in front of newer cars.
1970s: “Clunk Click” TV commercials, starring Jimmy Saville show the dangers of being thrown through the windscreen in a collision.
1983: For a three-year trial period, it becomes compulsory for drivers and passengers to wear seat belts.
1986: Both Houses of Parliament vote to keep the requirement permanently.
1987: Rear seat belts required to be fitted to new cars.
1989: Wearing rear seat belts becomes compulsory for children under 14.
1991: It becomes compulsory for adults to belt up in the back.
1993: “Elephant” TV advert shows the danger presented by an unrestrained back seat passenger in a crash, thrown forward with the impact of three and a half tons.
1996: Seat belts fitted to minibuses and coaches carrying groups of children on organised trips.
1998: “Julie” TV commercial comes as a reminder that unbelted rear seat passengers can not only injure themselves, but can also kill other people in the car.
2001: Seat belts required to be fitted to all minibuses and coaches.
2003: 20th anniversary of seat belts - 50,000 lives saved.
2006: New child seat regulations introduced.
Source: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
