Police join Europe-wide seat belt campaign
| Published: 20th February 2007 10:36 |
Derbyshire police are taking part in a Europe-wide initiative to tackle the problem of motorists failing to wear seat belts.
The week-long campaign begins today (Monday 19 February) and every officer in Derbyshire will be on the lookout for people who break the law in this way.
Chief Inspector Paul Berry, head of the police's road policing unit, said: "Many of the car occupants who are involved in road collisions suffer horrific injuries as a direct result of failing to wear seat belts. During our last campaign in September more than 400 fixed penalty notices were issued by officers for failure to use seat belts. The enforcement of seat belt legislation remains a top priority in our quest to reduce road casualties in line with government targets.
"Several people who were killed or seriously injured in the county last year were not wearing a seat belt.
"Those who fail to 'belt up' can expect an automatic fixed penalty fine of £30. In 2006, a total of 4,030 drivers and passengers were fined in this force area.
"We believe that many parents don't think about ensuring that children are properly restrained, especially on short journeys, for example when ferrying them to and from school. Children are our most precious asset and if they learn, at this early stage the importance of wearing seat belts, it becomes a habit which will hopefully remain with them for the rest of their lives.
"Parents and carers also need to remember that there are new regulations about child and baby seats in vehicles. Anyone who is in any doubt about the new law should look at the Government's website."
More information about the seat belt law relating to children can be found at http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/childcarseats.htm
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