Police crackdown on drivers without seatbelts

The road policing unit is running the campaign alongside a TISPOL Europe-wide campaign and in conjunction with the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas said: “There is evidence that people are less likely to use seatbelts on short of familiar journeys.

“By doing this they are placing themselves at risk of serious injury in a collision.

“Any driver or passenger who fails to wear a seatbelt in a vehicle is breaking the law.

“Drivers caught without a seatbelt face on-the-spot fines of £60. If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500, however the consequences could be much greater if you are involved in a collision.”

Alongside the enforcement a number of events will be taking place across the county to educate people about the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt.

In 2012, Sussex Police issued 4,017 £60 fixed penalty notices for seat belt offences.

This month, Sussex Police is also joining other forces around the country in offering educational courses for road offences, including Your Belt – Your Life, launched in Sussex to coincide with the seatbelt enforcement campaign.