Children in Birmingham 'still not wearing seatbelts'

Date: 27/4/2010

Police Community Support Officers in Bordesley Green, Birmingham have revealed that around eight in ten youngsters do not wear a seatbelt.

The discovery was made by officers out on patrol in the area and a new campaign to encourage kids to buckle up on their way to and from school involving a reward card has now been launched.

Children get stickers each time they wear a restraint and when the card gets 24 stamps they are given a seatbelt pad which protects their necks.

Jennifer Coombs of the Road Safety Education Team remarked: "The proper use of child car restraints can prevent many deaths and injuries to children."

She added that the organisation holds car seat clinics across Birmingham on a regular basis and parents who want more information can call the team on 0121 303 7674.

A campaign was recently launched in Scotland to encourage business drivers to wear seatbelts as, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, people who drive for work are less likely to buckle up.