Watch: Police promise seatbelt crackdown after finding children not ‘properly restrained’ in cars

Mid Ulster police have said they will be clamping down on seatbelt misuse after seeing young children not properly buckled into seats in cars.

“Young children are a most precious cargo,” said Inspector Amanda Kenny, “and they deserve to fully protected when travelling in any vehicle.

“Since the start of the school year we have seen instances were children haven’t been properly restrained, and this is simply not acceptable.

“Do not drive off before your child is properly strapped in,” she added.

“Seatbelts, child restraints and booster seats must be used properly if they are to function as designed. Tucking the seatbelt under your arm instead of having it across your chest and over your shoulder is not acceptable and in such circumstances the person will be deemed to be not wearing a seatbelt.

“We are striving to make roads area safer, but we can’t do it without your help. Please get it into your head that the risks on the roads are very real. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

“Too many people are killed and seriously injured in collisions that occur on our roads each year,” she added. “Through better design, cars are becoming safer, but people need to understand that having a safer car does not mean that you can drive recklessly, and still survive a collision. “Not wearing a seatbelt increases your chances of suffering serious injury and reduces your chances of surviving a crash.”

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