Over 300 People In South Wales Charged With Not Wearing A Seatbelt

Between 7th and 21st March all four Welsh police forces carried out their Seatbelt Campaign to raise awareness amongst drivers and passengers of the dangers of not wearing seatbelts in the event of a collision. South Wales Police charged 347 people during the campaign, last year the force charged 360. For the rest of Wales, […] ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Between 7th and 21st March all four Welsh police forces carried out their Seatbelt Campaign to raise awareness amongst drivers and passengers of the dangers of not wearing seatbelts in the event of a collision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police charged 347 people during the campaign, last year the force charged 360. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For the rest of Wales, the results were: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales – 146
Dyfed Powys Police – 958
Gwent Police – 46 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inspector Steve Davies of the South Wales Police Roads Policing Unit said: “Motorists and passengers need to be aware of the dangers they put themselves in every time they travel in a car without wearing a seatbelt. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our aim is to save lives and prevent loved ones from having to deal with the aftermath of a collision in which someone is not wearing a seatbelt. Across Wales 1,497 people were caught not wearing a seatbelt. It is alarming that so many people will put themselves and other lives at risk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Those who fail to wear their seatbelts whilst driving or as a passenger can be fined and prosecuted. During last year’s campaign South Wales Police charged 360 people for not wearing a seatbelt. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Failing to wear a seatbelt is one of the ‘fatal five’ offences. The fatal five are the five main causes for fatalities and serious collisions on the road. They are drink and drug driving, speed, careless or inconsiderate driving, seatbelts and mobile phones. South Wales Police, partner agencies and every force around the UK are committed to assisting in reducing casualties on the road.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said: “Putting on your seatbelt is such a simple act to carry out before your journey, especially when you’re twice as likely to die in a crash if you don’t. Road Safety Wales will continue to work with partners to educate the public that failing to wear a seatbelt can be a fatal decision even on short, familiar trips and those at low speeds.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​