Drivers and passengers called to belt up

28 August 2007

A campaign urging drivers and passengers to wear their seatbelts will be launched by Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership next week.

The initiative, which kicks off on Monday 3 September, will encourage people to belt up or face a £30 fine.

During the four-week campaign Derbyshire Police will be on the lookout for drivers and passengers who break the law.

More than 400 people were stopped and fined for failing to wear a seatbelt during last year's crackdown.

Motorists will also face a £30 fine if they fail to ensure that children are wearing seatbelt or are seated in a properly fitted child seat. They could be fined a maximum of £500 if the case goes to court.

The rules are:

  • Children up to three years old must use a child seat suitable for their weight.
  • Children over three up to 135cm in height (or their 12th birthday - whichever comes first) must use a suitable child seat.
  • Children over 12 can use an ordinary seatbelt.

In support of the campaign, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and Derbyshire Police will be distributing child car seat posters and leaflets to police stations, petrol stations, schools, parish councils and pharmacies during September.  

Chief Superintendent Lynn Harris, Head of Derbyshire Police's Operations Division said: "People involved in crashes have suffered horrific injuries because they weren’t wearing their seatbelts.

"It is vitally important that children are properly restrained and are taught to use seatbelts from an early age, so that the habit remains with them for the rest of their lives.

"Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership is committed to reducing casualties and making the county’s roads a safer place for everybody who uses them."

The partnership’s campaign will coincide with the European seatbelt campaign which will run from 10 to 16 September.

Following the campaign, Derbyshire County Council will be carrying out free car seat safety checks between 22 and 25 October, from 10am to 4pm at the following locations:

  • Sainsburys, Swadlincote
  • Sainsburys, Chesterfield
  • Morrisons, Buxton
  • Asda, Long Eaton