News

19 April 2010
NEW SEATBELT CAMPAIGN CLICKS INTO PLACE

- Launch comes as police stats reveal thousands fall foul of seatbelt law -

On average, more than 27,000 people a year in Scotland are caught not wearing a seatbelt according to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).  The news comes as a new national road safety campaign is launched and police forces across Scotland take part in a national coordinated day of action to target those breaking the law.

The Scottish Government, Road Safety Scotland and ACPOS will launch the awareness-raising drive in Edinburgh today (Monday 19th April), which is set to roll out in collaboration with road safety partners, businesses and communities around the country. 

The campaign - ‘HAVE YOU CLICKED?’ - aims to encourage drivers and passengers in Scotland to put their seatbelt on every time they get in any vehicle. While seatbelt compliance rates are estimated to be 95%, about 14% of adults don’t wear their seatbelts every time.

Chief Constable Kevin Smith at the launch of the
ACPOS Seatbelt Day of Action 19-04-10

It is estimated that 1 in 3 people who are killed in vehicles in Scotland are not wearing seatbelts, and half of those people could have been saved had they worn a seatbelt.

More than fifty partners, including Kwik Fit, Tesco and Arnold Clark, and a host of courier, taxi, distribution and van hire companies as well as private businesses and public sector organisations, are backing the campaign to remind employees, consumers and the general public about the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
Materials displaying the ‘HAVE YOU CLICKED?’ branding such as stickers and posters will be in and on vehicles, and in workplaces, homes, shops, buildings and other public spaces around the country.

Director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, said:

“Seatbelt usage reduces the chance of fatal injury by about 50% but, worryingly, we know that thousands of people are still risking their lives every year. It’s time for a renewed focus on seatbelt wearing and we think the best way to do this is to spread the word as widely as possible which is why we are delighted that so many partners are supporting HAVE YOU CLICKED?”

The campaign is launched as police forces across Scotland take part in a day of action co-ordinated by ACPOS.  During the 24-hour period, increased patrols in every force area will be on the look out for drivers and passengers breaking the law by failing to wear a seatbelt.

ACPOS Head of Road Policing, Chief Constable Kevin Smith, added:

“The seatbelt is a vital safety tool, designed to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a collision.  Despite continual safety warnings, I am deeply concerned that we are still catching thousands of people every year who are not wearing a seatbelt. By simply putting on a seatbelt the risk of being seriously injured in a collision or worse - killed is dramatically reduced.

“We hope that by renewing the focus on seatbelts we will remind drivers and passengers how dangerous it is to travel without wearing one and encourage them to put on their seatbelt every time they travel. It could save their life.

“With increased awareness, I hope that we will see a vast reduction in the number of individuals caught not wearing a seatbelt.  We will of course continue to enforce the legal requirement to wear a seatbelt and as well as day-to-day enforcement, forces across Scotland will today have increased patrols on the look out for drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt. The day of action which is coordinated by ACPOS is just one of a series of campaigns which demonstrate the Scottish Police Service’s year-round commitment to reduce the number of casualties on our roads.”

A specially designed ‘Seatbelt Sled’ will be in action at the launch of the campaign to highlight the force at which drivers and passengers are propelled forward in a sudden stop.

In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, your body will hit anything in front of you, including another passenger or driver, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.

Public health physician, Professor David Stone, an expert on injury and accident prevention based at Glasgow University, said:

“Seatbelts have saved countless lives since they were introduced on a wide scale in the 1970s. Large numbers of fatal or life-threatening head injuries and disfiguring facial lacerations are prevented or minimised by reducing the likelihood of car occupants colliding with the windscreen or being thrown from the vehicle in a crash.  

“Not only are people who don't wear seatbelts breaking the law, they are putting themselves and other car occupants at higher risk of death, serious injury and lifelong disability. Wearing a seatbelt is easy, sensible and could save your life."

The ‘HAVE YOU CLICKED?’ campaign is aimed at all drivers and passengers in Scotland but key sub groups who have the lowest compliance rates are: young males, drivers of good vehicles, rear seat passengers and company car drivers.

More info: www.dontriskit.info/seatbelts