By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 09:26, Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Cumbria police are cracking down on drivers who are not belting up – and warning offenders that they face £60 fines.

Pc Lee Hill

The force is supporting a European campaign which started this week and aims to promote the importance of seatbelts in saving lives.

A similar campaign last year saw 170 fixed penalty tickets issued, which carry a £60 fine, and 29 people verbally warned. Thirteen drivers were caught speeding, 11 using a mobile phone, and three were arrested for drink-driving.

Police officers will also be going into schools throughout the week to highlight the importance of wearing a seat belt to children.

Pc Lee Hill, the officer overseeing the campaign, said: “It is vital that we highlight the importance of wearing a seat belt, no matter what the age. Recent statistics show that in a serious accident you are twice as likely to survive if you are wearing a seatbelt.

“However, a number of children are not being restrained correctly when in a car.

“By educating children at a young age about the importance of wearing a seat belt, we hope that it will become second nature just to automatically put it on when in a vehicle and this will continue throughout their life. Also we hope that adults will take notice and be responsible by wearing a seat belt, no matter if they are in the front or back of a vehicle.”

PC Hill said they would be checking car seats and handing out leaflets detailing which child seats to use.

“We will be focusing on educating drivers, but those who drivers and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts in the front and back of vehicles are breaking the law and face on-the-spot fines of £60.

“If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500,” he added.

“One thing that came out of last year’s campaign was the fact that many people were stopped for failing to wear seatbelts correctly. They were tucking the chest strap under their arm.

“This is not using the seat belt as it was intended and will not protect them in the event of an accident.

“People will be stopped if they are seen wearing the belt in this way and appropriate action will be taken,” said PC Hill.

First published at 09:22, Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk