"Seat Belt Focus In Safety Drive On Southern Roads"

It’s a no brainer: belting up can save your life.

That’s the message from Southern Police District Police getting behind Road Safety Week, which starts today, Monday 16 May.

During the week there will be an increase in Police presence targeting those not wearing a seat belt.

Three out of the four people who died on southern roads in April may have been saved if they had been wearing their seat belts, says District Road Policing Manager Inspector Tania Baron.

“The wearing of seat belts is not just for the driver.

There’s an obligation for all passengers to be wearing them.

“Police have plans in place to ensure there’s a heightened focus on restraints, which is ultimately aimed at saving lives.

“The public can expect to be seeing Police staff across the district working together to make the roads safer in cities, towns and rural areas,” says Tania Baron.

Buckling up takes two seconds.

That time can mean the difference between keeping drivers and their passengers alive or preventing them from being seriously injured.

Whether you sit in the front or the back seat, the risk of serious or fatal injury is virtually the same.

Nationally, provisional data shows that around 40 percent of car occupants who have died on the roads this year were not wearing seat belts.

Analysis of 72 fatalities shows a significant number of victims in rural crashes were not wearing seatbelts and in a number of cases were ejected from their vehicle, according to a report commissioned by the Ministry of Transport.

Seat belts save lives – it’s that simple.

Why Do People Die in Road Crashes report is available at:http://www.transport.govt.nz/TERNZ-Report-Why-people-die-in-crashes

You can also view this release, including any additional images, online at:http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/seat-belt-focus-safety-drive-southern-roads

ENDS

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