Pan-European seatbelt safety focus

A Pan-European police operation enforcing the use of seatbelts has been carried out recently. The aim of the programme has been to encourage vehicle occupants to wear seatbelts and increase their chances of survival in the event of an impact. Despite the well proven safety benefits of seatbelt use, some vehicle occupants still opt not to wear them, giving such excuses as discomfort from the seatbelts or concern that they may crumple clothes. There is research linking the risk taking behaviour of those drivers who do not wear seatbelts to a higher incidence of crashes due to poor levels of judgement. 4753 TISPOL President Koen Ricour said, “Using a seatbelt is a quick and simple task; it’s also a highly effective way of reducing the consequences of a collision. That’s why wearing a seatbelt is not a matter of personal choice, but is compulsory for drivers and passengers in every European country. Yet there are still drivers and passengers who for whatever reason do not use a seatbelt. We urge drivers to take responsibility for their own safety and for the safety of their passengers, by ensuring everyone wears a seatbelt on every road journey. After all, the use of seatbelts is the single most effective method of reducing fatalities and serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions.”