Police in Norfolk and Suffolk urge people to 'belt up' to save lives
Norfolk Police say, in 2021, 30% of UK car occupant fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt
People in cars in Norfolk and Suffolk are being urged to 'belt up' to save lives.
It's as Norfolk and Suffolk's Roads Armed Police Team (RAPT) take part in a two-week long enforcement campaign to target drivers and passengers who choose not to belt up.
Officers from RAPT, the Commercial Vehicle Unit and Road Collision Reduction Team are carrying out increased checks across both counties throughout the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) campaign, which ends on 25th June 2023.
Not wearing a seatbelt has been identified as one of the main causes for those who die on our roads - and is commonly referred to as one of the ‘fatal four’ which roads policing teams work to reduce on a daily basis.
Police say, in a collision, you are twice as likely to die if you do not wear a seatbelt.
Norfolk Police say, in 2021, 30% of UK car occupant fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt.
They also say, in the last 6 years, the proportion of car occupants killed who were not wearing a seatbelt has remained consistently above 20%, with those aged 17-35 having the lowest seatbelt wearing rates.
Chief Inspector, Jonathan Chapman of the Roads Armed Policing Team said: “We all understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt but there are still a number of people who choose to break the law and risk their lives.
“It takes seconds to belt up. There is no reason why you shouldn’t be wearing one."
Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Giles Orpen-Smellie, said: “Given that not wearing a seat belt, at the moment of impact, is one of the so-called ‘fatal four’ causes of deaths and serious injuries in road traffic accidents, it is astonishing that some people, especially younger drivers, choose not to wear seat belts when driving.
"This creates an unnecessary risk of death and serious injury that would hurt not just the driver but also other road users, their families and loved ones.
“As part of my Police, Crime and Community Safety Plan, I want to encourage any initiatives that effectively support road users to be safer on our roads. Please buckle up!”
Drivers and passengers caught without a seat belt face on-the-spot fines of £100.
If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500.
Drivers are also responsible for ensuring each child passenger aged up to age 14 wears a seat belt and could be fined for each child without a seat belt.