Highland motorists reminded of seat belt law
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Police in the Highlands have issued a plea to motorists to make sure they and their children are all belted up properly.
The force made the call to coincide with UN Global Road Safety Week, which has highlighted road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for children and young adults worldwide.
The local road policing unit are drawing attention to the “fatal five” – the five main causes of death in fatal crashes, one of which is lack of a seatbelt, or an improperly used one.
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“In 1991, the law changed, requiring that drivers and passengers aged 14 and over in cars, vans and other commercial vehicles must wear a seatbelt, if available,” a spokesman said. “As a driver, you are responsible for ensuring that anyone under the age of 14 wears a seat belt or uses an appropriate child restraint as required by law.”
They urged people to make sure child seat belts are installed correctly, appropriate for height and weight.
“Studies have confirmed that wearing a seatbelt reduces both fatal and non-fatal injuries by 60 per cent among front-seat passengers and that wearing a seatbelt reduces both fatal and non-fatal injuries by 44 per cent among rear-seat passengers,” the spokesman added.
“Since the start of 2020, 10 per cent of road deaths within the Highland and Islands region have been as a result of not wearing a seatbelt.
“Basically, unless otherwise exempt and if your vehicle has a seat belt, then you should be wearing it – it could quite literally save your life.”
