21 people found not wearing seatbelts

14 February 2011, 15:59 | Updated: 1 March 2011, 16:53

Officers involved in a traffic operation in Northampton on Saturday found 21 people who were travelling in cars who were not wearing seatbelts, including children.

Ten people were also found to be using mobile phones while driving, including some who were texting while at the wheel.

Two cars were recovered after officers found the drivers had no insurance and one person was arrested for drink driving.

One car was found to be carrying a dangerous load – a fence panel on the roof, while one motorist went through a red light and another vehicle was being driven without a valid MOT.

PC David Lee from the Operation Tactical Unit led the operation with a group of Special Constables between 11am and 5pm on Saturday.

PC Lee said: “It’s surprising how many people still flout the law and think they can get away with it.

“Two of the people stopped had read about the operation taking place and still made the decision to pick up the phone whilst driving and have ended up with penalty points on their licence as well as a fine.”

The operation formed part of the Force’s on-going Fatal Four campaign tackling speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, being distracted at the wheel and drink driving.

PC Lee added: “Our emphasis on the Fatal Four is quite simple, education and enforcement. We are now stopping more and more drivers who fail to abide by the most basic and most common traffic laws than we ever have done before in this county.

“Analysis shows that there is still a large amount of avoidable collisions occurring where a mobile phone is in use, or where a seatbelt could have been worn.

“If people use a mobile phone whilst driving or fail to wear a seatbelt, they are running a serious risk of being killed, injured or even worse, injuring or killing someone else. Anyone found using a phone can expect to get three penalty points and a fine.

“The message is simple, Belt up and switch off.”