Scots urged to ‘click’ every time

New campaign targets the thousands who don’t buckle up

Although it might be assumed that wearing a seatbelt is standard practice for anyone getting into a vehicle, the latest figures reveal that an average of 27,000 people a year are caught not wearing their seatbelts by police in Scotland. Research shows that around 14% of people do not wear their seatbelt for every journey.

There might be many reasons why individuals don’t ‘click’ every time they get into a vehicle, such as a false sense of safety and security when on short or familiar journeys; when travelling in the backseat or in a taxi, or perhaps they think it is uncomfortable to wear one. The fact is, seatbelts only work if you wear them  every time.

This is the message that the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland want to get across to inconsistent seatbelt wearers.
The campaign is the latest phase of activity from ‘Have You Clicked?’ – a focussed effort by everyone involved in road safety in Scotland to encourage more people to wear their seatbelts every time. It sees the roll out of a new advert on TV, national and regional radio and in cinemas across Scotland. The ad is  aimed at getting individuals to think about their own seatbelt wearing behaviour.

It features a main character who finds himself in various situations doing something he wishes he hadn’t – for example, doing his own washing for the first time and then turning up at football practice with his white strip dyed pink. In the final scene his thinking switches. This time he’s wishing he had done something he hadn’t – put his seatbelt on.

The casualty reduction spokesperson for Scottish Police Forces, Chief Superintendent Charlie Common of Lothian and Borders Police, said “We need people to fasten their seat belts every time, rather than to pick and choose when to do so.  From a road safety perspective the risks associated with the failure to buckle up are abundantly clear.  In a collision occurring at 30mph an unrestrained driver or passenger can strike objects with a force of 30 times his or her body weight.  This is enough to cause horrendous injury, or even death.

“The one time you don’t put your seatbelt on could be the time that it costs you your life.”

More information
Seatbelts: the law If caught not wearing your seatbelt you will be given a £60 fixed penalty notice but could be fined up to £500. The driver is also responsible for anyone under 14 not wearing a seatbelt, and liable for the £60 penalty for each unrestrained child. For more information about seatbelt wearing, visit www.dontriskit.info.