Seatbelt campaign launched to cut road casualties

The 'Save Yourself' campaign is being run by the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership in response to figures produced by the Department for Transport.

Statistics show car crash victims not wearing a seatbelt are twice as likely to die and that around 300 lives per year could be saved if seatbelts were worn on every journey.

The campaign will be launched in a number of places across the county including advertising on the rear of buses, on local radio and online via Facebook.

Campaigners said they also want to deliver a a second message about research which shows that reaction times for drivers using a mobile phone are 30 per cent worse than for those driving under the influence of alcohol at the legal limit.

Chief Inspector Stuart Walne, head of roads policing for South Yorkshire Police said: "The number of people nationally who are killed because they are not wearing a seatbelt is unacceptable.

"Our campaign highlights that it is everyone's responsibility to consider their own safety and wear a seatbelt.

Whether you're in your own car, driving with a friend or a passenger in a taxi it is vital that you wear your seatbelt, it could save your life if you are involved in a collision.

"Throughout the year the South Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group focuses on all issues of road safety including seatbelt and mobile phone enforcement in order to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured and make South Yorkshire roads safer."

Drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt are subject to a 60 fixed penalty notice but could be fined up to 500 if they deny the offence and take the case to court. A driver is also responsible for anyone under 14 not wearing a seatbelt and is liable for the 60 penalty for each child.