Police launch seat belt campaign (From South Wales Argus)

Gwent Police join all-Wales crackdown on drivers

12:10am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By South Wales Argus Newsdesk

GWENT Police have vowed to crack down on motorists and passengers not wearing seatbelts as part of an All Wales Seat Belt Campaign which begins today.

Police have warned "Belting up can save a life" and will be monitoring the roads for those ignoring the law. During last year’s campaign 281 people were caught not wearing a seat belt in the Gwent Force area over a two-week period.

Chief Inspector Paul Evans, Head of Roads Policing for Gwent, said: "You’re not only risking your own life if you fail to wear a seat belt but the lives of others too and it’s disappointing that people still neglect to carry out such a simple act and protect themselves."

People caught not wearing a seat belt can be issued with a £60 Fixed Penalty Notice or summonsed to court and face fines of up to £500.

In the 2012 campaign, 843 people in Dyfed Powys were caught not wearing a seat belt, 563 in North Wales and 230 in South Wales.

The All Wales Seat Belt Campaign is being led by Dyfed Powys Police and officers from all four Welsh forces will be out on the roads stopping and fining drivers and passengers who are breaking the law.

Dyfed Powys Assistant Chief Constable Carl Langley said: "While you will face a fine if you are caught without your seat belt on, the key message we are trying to get across is that wearing a seat belt really could mean the difference between life and death - and that applies just as much to passengers as it does to drivers."

January 31 marked the 30th anniversary of the law requiring all drivers to wear their seat belts and this year's Seat belt Campaign runs until March 24.