Staffordshire Police warn drivers over ignoring seatbelt law
Police are reminding all drivers and their passengers to wear a seatbelt after over 1,000 instances of people ignoring the law in Staffordshire..
Operation Lightning, the force’s dedicated ongoing road policing operation, is focusing specifically on seatbelt safety from June 6 to 26 .
Staffordhire Road Policing Unit (RPU) out and about across the county, advising drivers of the dangers they face if they decide to break the law and not wear a seatbelt while travelling.
It comes as figures show that from 2017 to 2021, more than 3,600 occasions were recorded across Staffordshire where an adult driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
Since 2017, the number of reported non-seatbelt offences has risen by 42 percent – from 459 recorded instances to 1086 in 2021.
Sergeant Tom Watson of RPU, said: "Seatbelts are designed to keep you in your seat, and prevent or reduce injuries suffered in a crash.
"They ensure that as little contact as possible is made between you and vehicle interior and significantly reduce the risk of you being thrown from a vehicle."
He added: "You’re twice as likely to die in a car crash if you’re not wearing a seatbelt. We think that is a reason enough to belt up when driving.
"It is illegal to not wear a seatbelt, regardless of whether you are travelling in the front or back of a vehicle.
If spotted, drivers an on-the-spot fine of £100. If prosecuted, or a fine of up to £500.
