FORGETTING to put on your seatbelt in a split-second oversight could cost the life of you or a loved one.
That was the safety message from Humberside Police today as they begin a month-long campaign to make sure everyone wears a seatbelt while driving.
There will be extra patrols in North East Lincolnshire looking for drivers and passengers who are breaking the law.
Each year, 370 deaths and around 7,000 serious injuries are caused by people failing to wear seatbelts.
Humberside Police casualty reduction officer, Pc Barry Gardner said 85 per cent of front-seat passengers and 50 per cent of rear-seat passengers comply with the seatbelt laws when travelling in a vehicle.
But many do not.
Police officers will be increasing their patrols on the lookout for those breaking the law.
The driver education campaign will highlight the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt and making sure children have the correct restraints in place when travelling in a vehicle.
Officers from across the force will enforcing the campaign at a number of locations in North East Lincolnshire throughout this month.
Pc Barry Gardner, said: "If compliance rates can be increased, the severity of injury in the event of a road collision can be reduced dramatically.
"By raising awareness it is hoped to increase seatbelt wearing compliance levels through enforcement, education and encouragement.
"A driver is responsible for him or herself and for any passenger under the age of 14 years.
"Any passenger 14 years of age and over is responsible for their own seatbelt."
The law states that all drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, which includes cars, light vans and any vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes, must wear seatbelts.
The officer in charge of aiming to reduce casualties on our roads said fellow officers from Humberside Police Roads Policing Team will be increasing high visibility patrols with a view to not only disrupting, preventing and detecting criminal activity but also to reduce road collisions and casualties, particularly those involving death and serious injury.
The Seatbelt Regulations of 1993, regulation 14(3), made it an offence to fail to wear a seatbelt when travelling as the driver or passenger in a motor vehicle.
In September 2006, new seatbelt and child restraint legislation was introduced.
Children under three years must use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in any vehicle, including vans and other goods vehicles.
Rear facing baby seats must not be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically.
POLL: Do you ever drive without a seatbealt? (anonymous poll)Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
VIEW PICTURE GALLERIES www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/pictures
