Seatbelts Save Lives
10 Sep 2010
As part of an ongoing initiative to reduce the number of people killed or injured on the roads, the police in Portrush are advising motorists that they will be clamping down on seatbelt misuse.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Sharon Campbell said, “Too many people are killed and seriously injured in collisions that occur on our roads each year. Through better design, cars are becoming safer, but people need to understand that having a safer car does not mean that you can drive recklessly, and still survive a collision. Not wearing a seatbelt increases your chances of suffering serious injury and reduces your chances of surviving a crash.”
“Young children are of course a most precious cargo and they deserve to be fully protected when travelling in any vehicle. Since the start of the school year we have seen instances were children haven’t been properly restrained, and this is simply not acceptable. Do not drive off before your child is properly strapped in.”
"Seatbelts, child restraints and booster seats must be used properly if they are to function as designed. Tucking the seatbelt under your arm instead of having it across your chest and over your shoulder is not acceptable and in such circumstances the person will be deemed to be not wearing a seatbelt.”
“We are striving to make roads in the Portrush area safer, but we can’t do it without your help. Please get it into your head that the risks on the roads are very real. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem”, concluded Sergeant Campbell.
Failing to wear a seatbelt will attract a fixed penalty fine of £60 with three penalty points endorsed on driving licenses.
The legislation applies to all drivers who fail to wear seatbelt, carry an unbelted child aged under 14, or carry a child under 12 years and under 135cms tall without proper restraint.
A passenger travelling without a seatbelt can be fined £30.
