Commissioner urges drivers to “belt-up”

Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Graham Bright is backing a campaign to encourage car users to wear seatbelts.

The campaign is part of a Europe-wide blitz on seatbelts. European research suggests that about 50% of all car occupants that die in fatal accidents in the EU could have survived if they had been wearing their seat belt.

Sir Graham said: “Road safety is one of the biggest concerns the public raises with me. The chance of serious injury is greatly increased if you are not wearing a seat belt and can have long term consequences for both the injured as well as their families. So please belt-up and make sure those in the car with you do likewise.”

Throughout September Cambridgeshire Constabulary will be targeting those who don’t wear seatbelts county’s roads and raising awareness of the dangers of not belting up.

Roads Policing Sergeant Chris Huggins said: “Over the coming weeks officers from our roads policing unit will be carrying out regular patrols targeting those flouting the law in relation to wearing a seatbelt. This campaign is not just about fining people for breaking the law, it’s also about giving them valuable advice which could save their life.”

Those caught not using the life-saving device can be fined up to £500.