Drivers Aren't Belting Up

Drivers who were not wearing not wearing seat belts whilst driving in the Waterlooville area were stopped yesterday (2nd March) as part of a road safety initiative.

Police officers from the Cosham Roads Policing Unit and the Safer Roads Partnership stopped motorists who were not wearing seat belts and offered them the opportunity to attend a road safety presentation as an alternative to a fine.

Motorists who chose to attend the presentations were given a hard hitting talk on the dangers of their behaviour by the Hampshire County Council Road Safety Team and Hampshire Fire and Rescue staff at Waterlooville Fire Station. Those who chose not to attend were given a fine.

Police officers monitored drivers for 3 hours on sites on the London Road, both north and south of the centre and Milton Road at Cowplain. A total of 74 people were stopped for seat belt offences and 69 of these opted to attend the presentation. Other offences dealt with included 8 people using their mobile phones whilst driving and one vehicle for being driven without an MOT certificate. 7 of the people stopped for phone offences opted to attend a Driver Distraction Course.

PS Jason Kirby, of the Safer Roads Partnership said: “There are still a substantial minority of drivers in the Waterlooville area who are taking no notice of the widespread publicity about the benefits of wearing seat belts. Today’s multi agency initiative is designed to remind people that wearing of seat belts, even on the shortest of journeys, can save lives and reduce the severity of injuries both for drivers and passengers. Driving using mobile phones puts, not only the driver, but also other road users in danger and with all the publicity on the subject there is no excuse for it.”