Highland police join forces on speed and seatbelt campaign

NORTHERN CONSTABULARY will be carrying out a Day of Action of action to educate drivers about the importance of wearing seatbelts and having children properly restrained whilst travelling in a vehicle.
The day-long ACPOS-led campaign will also focus on speeding motorists, particularly at this time of year when there will be an increase in pedestrian traffic due to school holidays and an increase in visitors to the area.
It will run from 0600 on tomorrow until 0600 Saturday 2 July and coincides with the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the rear seatbelt legislation.
The summer break means that young people or children will spend more time in vehicles than normal as they travel to holiday destinations across the Force area and beyond with their families.
The Force's Road Safety Officer, Laura Fisher, said: "We will certainly see more youngsters travelling in cars than normal with it being holiday time. People should make sure they are wearing a seatbelt before setting off and ensure children are properly restrained. The seatbelt is the number one safety device within vehicles and it is an offence not to wear it. Seatbelts and other restraints have been proven to reduce injury or death, even during low speed collisions."
Ms Fisher added: "We are also advising drivers to be aware of their speed during the summer months, particularly with the increase in pedestrian traffic and young people whilst the schools are out. Officers will be visible and will be focusing on both offences during the Day of Action. Seatbelts and speeding are issues which the public continue to tell us they are concerned about."
Seatbelts are critical in reducing serious injury for vehicle occupants and can reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 50%. Additionally, modern vehicle safety features, such as airbags, are only designed to work if the occupant is suitably restrained.
Children are particularly at risk in vehicles when they are not properly restrained. In Scotland, it is estimated that 1 in 3 people who are killed in vehicles in are not wearing seatbelts, and half of those people could have been saved had they worn a seatbelt.
Despite the obvious risk, police figures show that on average 27,000 drivers and passengers are caught every year in Scotland not wearing a seatbelt.
In 1983 regulations were brought in under the Transport Act which made it mandatory for front seat passengers to wear seatbelts. In 1989 it became compulsory for children (under 14) to wear rear seatbelts. Then in 1991 the rear seat belts law was extended to adults.