A four-year-old child was among those found not wearing an appropriate restraint during a week-long seatbelt campaign.
Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit carried out the campaign between Monday 9th March and Sunday 15th March.
A total of 29 drivers were found not wearing their seatbelts in the Cleveland and Durham areas, as well as a four-year-old child, who was found to be travelling without an appropriate restraint in the rear of a vehicle when it was stopped in the Middlesbrough area.
Prior to the campaign, police warned motorists that there are no excuses when it comes to a choice between life or death, having previously heard excuses such as “my clothes will get crumpled” and “it’s uncomfortable”.
Inspector Ed Turner, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Whilst the majority of people do listen to our warnings, there is a hardcore of individuals that continue to ignore them and those people will now feel the force of the law.
“It is inconceivable that drivers would risk their own lives, let alone the lives of their passengers, especially children, travelling with them. Clearly the results of the campaign demonstrate the continued need for our officers to be out there on the roads, keeping people as safe as possible. In taking part in these campaigns we hope to educate people in addition to carrying out enforcement action.”
Common misconceptions around seatbelts include that the air bags will offer motorists enough protection for them not to be seriously injured, that they don’t need to wear it as they are only going a short distance or it would be safer in the event of an accident to be thrown from their vehicle.
Under current legislation drivers are responsible for ensuring that suitable safety restraints are worn by all passengers under 14 years old. Children must use an appropriate child car restraint for their weight until they are 135cm tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first.
Failure to wear a seatbelt now carries a fine of £100. If prosecuted the maximum fine could be anything up to £500.