Sussex Police want motorists to belt up

Covert checks on drivers began across the county yesterday as part of a TISPOL Europe-wide campaign and in conjunction with the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.

Temporary Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas from Sussex Police Road Policing Unit said: “Not only are drivers and passengers involved in crashes who wear seatbelts far less likely to sustain serious or fatal injuries you are also breaking the law if you don’t wear one.

“If you are caught without a seatbelt you can expect to be stopped and fined up to £500 if you do not have a valid excuse.

“Wearing a seatbelt is a very simple action which drivers and passengers can carry out to increase their safety on the roads. As part of the campaign we will also be educating people about the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt so that they choose to wear one in the future.”

It has been law now since 1993 to wear a seatbelt in a car without a valid excuse.

During the campaign checks will be carried out by both mobile and static units in marked and unmarked police cars.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership are continuing to use their award-winning seatbelt commercial ‘Embrace Life’ (www.embracethis.co.uk) to remind motorists how the simple act of putting on a seatbelt can save lives.

The advert is being used in a range of educations projects to influence an individual’s behaviour before they get into the vehicle, thereby hopefully removing the need for the police to stop the driver at all.