West Mercia Police fined 166 motorists in JUST one week for not wearing seatbelts
More than 160 motorists were fined for not wearing a seatbelt during a crackdown by police, new figures revealed today reveal.
West Mercia Police said it handed out fines to 166 drivers it caught in a one-week operation designed to target those not wearing seatbelts.
The force said it also seized two vehicles for no insurance and arrested one person for providing a positive breath test.
It comes as Dyfed-Powys Police launched a two week crackdown on the same issue in Mid Wales after last year fining 1,039 people £100.
It added that 12 of those caught in Mid Wales last year were children.
Vicki Barstow, communications manager for the West Mercia Police Safer Roads Partnership, said: " Over the space of last week - a full seven days of the campaign – 166 motorists were issued tickets in West Mercia for the offence of not wearing a seatbelt.
"Of these we also had two vehicle seizures for no insurance and a positive breath test."
The campaign in Dyfed-Powys will last until the end of next week.
Chief Inspector Martyn Stone, who is leading the campaign, said: "During the campaign, officers from all four Welsh forces will be out checking drivers and passengers offering advice and issuing tickets in instances where seatbelts are not being worn.
"We have made a lot of progress educating drivers about other dangers of driving, but there are still a number of people who don't routinely belt up as they get in their car.
"It is not just drivers, but passengers as well. If you are a passenger and do not wear a seatbelt, you can be fined.
"We hope that getting this message out over the next two weeks will encourage everyone to think differently when they get in their cars."
Susan Storch , chairman of Road Safety Wales, added: "We want to encourage people to recognise the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt and we know that there are still people across Wales who are taking that risk.
"Wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death so drivers and passengers need to realise the importance of belting up not only for their own safety but for others also."
A similar crackdown was held by West Mercia Police earlier this month and the results will be announced in the coming days.
Anna Higgins, communications manager at the Safer Roads Partnership, said: "Although the vast majority of people do wear their seatbelt, there are still some who either choose not to or simply forget. Nationally and locally, there are collisions occurring where people haven't worn their seatbelt and the injuries sustained could have been avoided if seatbelts were used.
"Drivers and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts in the front and back of vehicles are breaking the law and face an on-the-spot fine of £100. If prosecuted, the maximum fine can be up to £500. It takes just a couple of seconds to put your seatbelt on, so there really isn't any excuse not to use it and it could save your life if you're involved in a collision. Making sure children are restrained in correctly fitted car seats or booster cushions is just as vital."
