Children caught in cars with no seatbelts

They were stopped as part of a week-long police enforcement campaign on drivers and passengers in 26 countries across Europe.

Of the 202 caught locally not wearing seatbelts, 18 were children.

PC Keith Ward, a traffic officer with 25 years experience, said a minority – often drivers of small goods vehicles – were still flouting the law.

He said: “I’ve been to probably 14,000 accidents and seat belts do save lives.

“If you value the life of your child you have to restrain them in the correct child restraint or seat.

“I don’t think people realise the consequences. If you are travelling at 30mph and stop suddenly you will continue to travel at 30mph per hour and the laws of physics state that body weight increases.

“By the time your head hits the dashboard you could be weighing 60 times your normal weight.

“A rear seat passenger who is not restrained will hit you on the back of your head with potentially fatal consequences.”

The campaign in March was co-ordinated by TISPOL, the pan-European traffic police organisation, whose main priority is to reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured on Europe’s roads.

Across Europe more than 115,000 penalties were issued, with 3642 related to children.

TISPOL President Roar Skjelbred Larsen said: “Wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way of saving lives and reducing injuries in road crashes.

“That’s why wearing a seat belt is not a matter of choice and we will continue to use vigorous enforcement strategies which back up the continuing education campaigns.”