Clampdown warning over seat belts

New regulations on child seats were introduced in 2006

Drivers and passengers across Wales are being targeted in a campaign to remind them of the dangers of failing to use their seat belts.

The nation's four police forces say they will be clamping down on those who fail to buckle up.

The drive is being led by Dyfed-Powys Police, who say those who ignore the law are endangering all on the roads.

Officers say that wearing a seat belt increases the chance of surviving an accident by up to 60%.

Wearing a seat belt really could mean the difference between life and death - and that applies just as much to passengers as it does to drivers Chief Insp Phil Davies

The campaign will be launched in Llandrindod Wells in conjunction with the Powys Community Safety Partnership.

A year ago there was a similar crackdown, and more than 3,000 people were caught.

The law states that drivers and adult passengers in the front seat of cars must wear a seat belt unless they have a medical exemption certificate.

SEAT BELT TIMETABLE 1967: The law says new cars in the UK must be fitted with front seat belts 1986: A three-year trial period forcing drivers and front seat passengers to wear seat belts becomes permanent 1991: Compulsory for adults to belt up in the back. 2001: Seat belts required to be fitted to all minibuses and coaches

Adults in the rear must also use seat belts, if they are fitted in the car. It is not the driver who has the responsibility of ensuring adults in the car are wearing seat belts, but the passengers themselves.

Front seat belts became compulsory in 1983, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) has estimated that 50,000 lives have been saved.

Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Insp Phil Davies said: "Wearing a seat belt is such a simple, easy thing to do.

"As police officers, we see the consequences of driving without a seat belt all too often at crash scenes.

"While you will face a fine if you are caught without your seat belt on, the key message we are trying to get across is that wearing a seat belt really could mean the difference between life and death - and that applies just as much to passengers as it does to drivers."