West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has voiced his support for an international drive to improve road safety, which sees officers across the Midlands motorway network cracking down on motorists and passengers who aren’t wearing seatbelts.
From today, the Central Motorway Police Group will be paying special attention to vehicles throughout the week and raising awareness of why everyone has a responsibility to belt up.
It’s part of an international operation under TISPOL − the organisation which brings together roads policing organisation across Europe to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.
The campaign is aimed at everyone from lorry drivers through to families who don’t secure their children in the vehicle.
An HGV tractor unit is specifically being used to carry out enquiries with truckers as it allows officers to see clearly into other heavy goods vehicles.
As well as enforcing the law, police will be educating motorists at motorway service stations across the region about the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
Supported by the fire service, they will be at Frankley services on the M5 today (8 September) and Hopwood Park services on the M42 tomorrow (9 September).
West Midlands PCC David Jamieson said, “Seatbelts save lives. Though research indicates that over 90 per cent of people wear a seatbelt when a driver or a passenger, there remains a minority who do not.
“Sadly, these people and their children who do not wear belts are far more likely to be killed or injured.
“As Police and Crime Commissioner, I intend to do all I can to make our roads safer, and that includes encouraging everyone from all communities to wear a seatbelt, whether young or old, passenger or driver.
“I wholeheartedly support this campaign, and sincerely hope that the message gets through.”
Inspector Andrew Bentley, from Central Motorway Police Group, said: “We want to make sure everyone who gets into a vehicle and takes to the road does so in a safe and secure manner.
“Seatbelts are there for a reason – they save lives – and the law states all occupants of vehicles fitted with them should be wearing one.
“It is shocking to see how many people still think it is OK to drive off, even driving at speed on a motorway, whilst not wearing a seatbelt. It beggars belief that people would also risk their child’s life by not properly securing them in their vehicle.”
The campaign sees all of the Group’s 190 officers and staff paying particular attention to vehicles using the region’s 400 miles of motorway to ensure people are heeding the warnings – or face prosecution.
Check out these videos on consequences of not wearing a seatbelt http://think.direct.gov.uk/video-seatbelts-julie.html and http://think.direct.gov.uk/video-seatbelts.html
More information relating to the day to day work of CMPG can be found on the group’s new Twitter feed, just search for @CMPG.
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