Seat belts save lives and prevent injuries #AlwaysBuckleUp

Buckling up is a legal requirement, and it is the right thing to do.

The Department of Transport and Public Works is working hard to emphasise the importance of buckling up, both drivers and passengers, and especially children. Anyone under the age of three years must be buckled up in an age-appropriate child restraint.

Deaths and disfigurements are possible even in low-speed collisions. The back seat is no safer than the front. Having airbags in your vehicle is no excuse for not wearing a seatbelt. Airbags are more effective when combined with a seatbelt. So always buckle up, in every seat, on every trip. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers are buckled up and will be prosecuted if any child under 14years old is found not buckled up.

In a crash, any unrestrained person continues moving at the same speed as the vehicle was moving at the time of impact. This means an unrestrained person becomes a projectile, endangering the lives of everyone inside the vehicle. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death in a crash by nearly half, and almost completely eliminates the risk of being ejected from the vehicle.

Passenger safety tips:

• Always wear a seat belt, even on the shortest trip.
• Wear your seatbelt appropriately by fastening the lap and shoulder belt across your hips. Do not place the shoulder belt under your arm or across your face or neck.
• Adjust your seatbelt as necessary for maximum comfort and protection.

Child passenger safety tips:

• Always buckle up your children, even on the shortest trip.
• Use a properly installed child safety or booster seat.
• Make sure your child’s car seat is suitable for the child’s age and size.
• Never travel with a child on your lap.
• Sharing a seat belt with a child is dangerous.
• Never leave infants and young children unattended in a car.
• Children using seat belts should sit back against the vehicle seat with knees bending comfortably over the seat edge

In September, the Department of Transport and Public Works will make it a priority to check seatbelt use among drivers and passengers and make sure that they #AlwaysBuckleUp.