Police target speeding motorists and drivers who fail to wear seatbelts

The Northern Constabulary is currently carrying out a 24-hour day of action against speeding drivers with an extra focus on those who fail to wear seatbelts.

The enforcement activity is part of a year-long campaign to highlight the dangers of not wearing seatbelts or failing to restrain children within vehicles properly.

The police said the day of action was part of their commitment to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads of the Highlands and Islands.

The campaign is timed to coincide with the end of the school holidays across Scotland, with schools in the Highlands and Islands having returned the previous week.

Road safety officer Laura Fisher said: “Speeding remains on the main factors involved in road traffic collisions and is an issue the public tell us is of real concern to them.

“Our message is reduce your speed before it’s too late to reverse the consequences. Drivers should pay particular attention to their speed at this time of year when children are back at school and pedestrian traffic is greatly increased at peak times.”

The police are also reminding drivers and passengers to put on their seatbelts every time they get inside a vehicle.

Seatbelt compliance rates in Scotland are believed to be around 95 per cent but it is estimated that 14 per cent of adults do not wear a seatbelt every time.

Around one in three people who are killed in vehicles in Scotland are not wearing seatbelts, and half those people could have been saved had they been wearing one.

Families or carers of young children will have an opportunity to see if their car seat is fitted correctly and be offered safety advice on all aspects of child car seats including  the legal requirement of child car seat legislation.

Ms Fisher said failure to restrain even one person properly in a vehicle can be disastrous, should the car be required to stop suddenly.

She said: “Seatbelt laws have been in force for years now and there should be no excuse for not belting up.

“Children are particularly vulnerable and they should be properly restrained before embarking on any journey. If they are young enough to require a car seat it should be checked and fitted properly. Any responsible retailer will not only help you choose the right seat, but ensure it is fitted correctly.”