Police stop 60 drivers not wearing seatbelts

Police found dozens of drivers were dicing with death or risking serious injury by not belting up.

A total of 67 vehicles were stopped during an enforcement operation conducted by traffic officers from South Yorkshire Police earlier as part of a European-wide initiative.

The week-long operation resulted in 62 drivers being issued with fixed penalty notices and a further five being given verbal warnings.  

A higher proportion of those stopped were men — with 46 men not wearing their belts, compared to 21 women.

More worryingly, 14 children within the vehicles were found to be not wearing a belt or restraint.

Drivers have a responsibility to ensure all their passengers wear belts and will be liable for prosecution themselves if any child under 14 is found not to be wearing any form of seat restraint within their vehicle.

The figures surprised the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership, whose aim is to reduce the number of people injured in road traffic collisions and to make South Yorkshire roads safer.

Joanne Wehrle, the partnership’s education manager, said: “I am really disappointed to find that some people are still not wearing their seatbelts. “Belting up is a very simple act — it is not rocket science — and it should be the first thing you do when you get into a vehicle.

“It only takes a minute of your time — the same time it takes to be involved in a collision.

“Unfortunately, by not wearing a seatbelt you could be left with a lifetime of consequences or possibly no life at all.

“Along with speeding, using mobile phones whilst driving and drinking and driving, not wearing a seatbelt is one of the main causes of death or injury in road traffic collisions — collectively known as the Fatal Four.

“In a crash you are twice as likely to die if you don't wear a seatbelt."

Chief Insp Glen Suttenwood, South Yorkshire’s head of road policing, said he did not understand why people seem to ‘forget’to wear a seatbelt, particularly the younger generation who have grown up having to wear seatbelts.

He added: “It seems to be total madness to me that anyone would get into a vehicle and not put on their belts because we know from first-hand experience that even a so-called small collision at a comparatively low speed can result in catastrophic injuries that changes lives.

“Every driver and passenger in a vehicle should wear a seat belt, irrespective of how long or short the journey.

“Wearing a belt correctly offers the best possible protection in a crash and thousands of lives have been saved since the law came into force.”

Anyone not wearing one who is stopped by the police will face an on-the-spot fine of £100.

Alternatively, if they are prosecuted they face a maximum fine of £500.

Drivers and passengers aged 17 to 34 have the lowest seatbelt-wearing rates and there is evidence that some people are less likely to use their seatbelts on short or familiar journeys, the partnership said, adding that choosing not to belt up at any time could be a fatal decision.