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Road safety officers will be using seatbelt model 'The Dims' in
schools to demonstrate the importance of wearing a seatbelt in an
interactive and fun way. Officers will also be distributing
literature to parents, pupils and schools.
Surveys which were undertaken in
2006 will be repeated over the coming months to establish current
seatbelt wearing rates across the city. The results of the 2006
survey showed that on average 30 per cent of child rear seat
passengers were not wearing seatbelts on the school run and in some
parts of the city the percentage was much higher.
Clair George, road safety officer
for Peterborough City Council, said: "The penalty for not using a
child restraint is a £30 fixed penalty notice and if the case goes
to court the maximum fine is £500.
“The law also clearly states that
drivers can’t carry children just using the seat belt until they are
over 135cm or 12 years. There are a few exemptions but parents and
carers will need to think ahead about how they, or someone else,
will be carrying their child."
She added: "Everyone knows they
should wear a seatbelt in the front seat. However research has shown
that many adult passengers don’t realise how dangerous it is not to
wear a seat belt in the back.
"In a crash at 30mph, if you are
unrestrained, you will hit the front seat and anyone in it with a
force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight. Such an
impact could result in death or serious injury to both yourself and
front seat occupants."
September 2008 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
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