Clunk Click Every Trip!

Every day in Britain, families receive the knock on the door no one wants to hear.

Across England and Wales, an average of 5 people lose their lives and 68 are seriously injured on our roads. Yet many of these lives could have been saved by wearing a seatbelt.

In 1983 the UK introduced one of the most important road safety laws in modern history, making seatbelts compulsory for drivers and front-seat passengers. At the time it sparked debate and resistance, but it has undoubtedly saved precious lives.

Seatbelts are estimated to have saved tens of thousands of lives in Britain. They reduce the risk of death in a collision by around 50 per cent.

And yet some people are still breaking the law and risking their lives.

Government data shows that around 1 in 3 vehicle occupants killed in collisions were not wearing a seatbelt. A recent seatbelt enforcement operation carried out by Durham Constabulary’s Roads and Armed Policing Team during the February half-term produced shocking results.

One driver received three separate tickets in just one week for failing to wear their seatbelt, totaling £300 in fines. But what concerned officers even more was that when some drivers were stopped, children travelling in the vehicle were also unrestrained.

Failure to wear a seatbelt is one of the behaviours linked to the most serious collisions, alongside speeding, drink or drug driving and mobile phone use.

As PCC, making our roads safer is a key commitment in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan because it was one of the publics priorities. In my national role as APCC Joint Lead for Roads Policing, I also work with partners across the country to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

I strongly support the Vision Zero approach, the belief that no death on our roads should ever be considered inevitable.

Here in County Durham and Darlington, Durham Constabulary is deploying advanced roadside technology that is capable of detecting drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts.

Road safety is also about personal responsibility.

Before you start your journey Click your seatbelt. Check your passengers.

Because the life you save could be your own or someone you love and no family should have to endure the heartbreak of losing someone so needlessly.

By Joy Allen, Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington