seatbelts save lives

Seatbelts save lives 

Wednesday 1 April sees the launch of a national campaign that aims to highlight and educate people on the importance of wearing your seatbelt.

Every year, people lose their lives in collisions. According to the Department for Transport, 40% of all fatal rear‑seat passenger collisions involved someone who wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

While seatbelts don’t stop collisions from happening, in the unfortunate event that you are in one, they do dramatically increase your chances of surviving one.

Whether you're the driver, a front‑seat passenger, or sitting in the back, buckling up is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your friends and family.

As the driver, you’re legally responsible for wearing your own seatbelt in cars, vans, and goods vehicles and ensuring all of your passengers do too. There are only a few exemptions, such as holding a valid medical certificate. For younger children, the correct child seat or restraint must be used.

It's always important to remember, if you are caught not wearing a seatbelt, it may lead to a fine.

So, buckle up - a seatbelt only takes a few seconds to put on, and it could save your life!