Ref: PR2200
Date: 27/04/09

A new campaign to urge people to wear seat belts is being launched by Wakefield Council next week.

The Seat Belt On campaign is part of a West Yorkshire-wide initiative to highlight the dangers of riding in vehicles without wearing a seat belt.

Research by the Department for Transport shows that around 28% of people do not consistently wear their seatbelt ie they only wear their seatbelts when they perceive a risk such as travelling at high speed, long journeys or on unfamiliar roads.

Cllr Denise Jeffery said: "Road accidents can be devastating for families and communities. It is so important that we continue to encourage motorists to drive safely and to make sure everyone uses an appropriate seat belt on every journey they take. We hope this campaign will challenge the belief that there is such a thing as a low risk journey and to show drivers and passengers the consequences of a crash."

The Council's Road Safety Team will visit schools and colleges as well as hold events around the district along with partners the West Yorkshire Police, Fire and Rescue Service and NHS Wakefield District.

They will be working with the Fire and Rescue Service to organised mock car-crash events which will see volunteers being cut out of vehicles in order to show the possible consequences of accidents.

The launch also sees the introduction of roadside advertising to remind drivers to buckle up.

Ends