Be safe — belt up

More than 50 people were fined for not wearing a seatbelt in a police operation in Newark this week.

The head of roads policing in Nottinghamshire, Chief Inspector Andy Charlton, said offenders were still not getting the message that seatbelts saved lives.

Police say people are twice as likely to be killed in a crash if they are not wearing one.

The 54 offenders were issued with £30 fixed penalty notices.

As part of Tuesday’s operation officers also targeted people using mobile phones while driving.

Eight were spotted and fined £60 and given three penalty points on their licences.

It was part of a county-wide campaign to tackle bad driving habits.

Chief Inspector Charlton, said the figures were typical of the level of disobedience and illegality they were finding.

He said that people were not getting the message, despite high profile campaigns.

“People are being killed and seriously injured,” he said.

“We’re trying to make sure casualties are reduced.

“It isn’t about issuing fixed penalties. We can’t seem to persuade people to stop using mobile phones or to wear seatbelts.”

The campaign, which ends on Sunday, is among initiatives devised by the Nottinghamshire Road Safety Partnership.

The county council’s principal road safety officer, Liz Rickards, said: “Losing a loved one in a road collision is a tragedy that you never recover from.

“To know that they may have survived had they worn their seatbelt or switched off their mobile phone before driving off is heartbreaking.

“We implore all drivers to obey these important laws which may actually save their life, or those of a loved one.”

The manager of red watch at Newark Fire Station, Mr Brian Smith, said: “If you wear a seatbelt you’re not going to be thrown about the car.

“It could be the difference between life and death.

“At 20mph you can be thrown through the windscreen and it can kill you, but if you have a seatbelt on it will restrain you.”

Tuesday’s campaign focussed on Northgate before moving to London Road.

Sergeant Simon Cookson said most offenders were caught in the rush-hour from 8.30am-9.30am.

He said: “To drag 62 people in to be dealt with for offences in one morning is quite a high proportion of drivers who, for some reason, have not got into the habit of putting their seatbelt on or not using mobile phones.

“We have sent out a positive message to everyone that if they drive without a seatbelt, or on their mobile phone, they are likely to cause injury or be injured and also be dealt with by the police.”

As well as issuing fines officers also carried out checks using Blackberry devices connected to the police national computer on vehicles, drivers’ names and driving licences.

One vehicle was also searched for drugs, although none was found.