This is the message being reinforced by the WA Local Government Association’s RoadWise Program as the Road Safety Council launches the latest restraints campaign.

Association President Cr Bill Mitchell said even though last year 41 of the State’s 202 road fatalities were not wearing a seat belt, some drivers were continuing to make excuses for not belting up.

“Most people do the right thing, but those who use the old excuses that they don’t have time fasten their seatbelt, are only travelling a short distance or forget to belt up are not taking responsibly for themselves, their families or other road users,” Cr Mitchell said.

“It doesn’t matter if you are driving for six hours or six minutes, you are 18 times more likely to be killed in a car crash if you don’t belt up.

“A crash at 40 kilometres per hour is like falling from a two-storey building onto concrete so we know that wearing a seat belt helps to minimise injuries and the risk of you dying.”

“When you consider that wearing a seat belt has been law for the past 36 years, it is extraordinary that people are putting themselves and their families at risk like this.”

“All it takes is a simple pull, push and click.”

Restraints facts:
• Males aged between17 and 39 make up 61 per cent of unrestrained road fatalities.
• In the 10 years to 2004, 48 per cent of six to 16-year-olds killed on the roads were not wearing a seat belt.
• In 2004, rural road users accounted for 34 per cent of those who were not wearing seat belts when killed in crashes
• Males aged between 17 and 39 make up 61 per cent of unrestrained road fatalities, with those in the Wheatbelt, Pilbara, Gascoyne and South West accounting for at least half of these.
• Infants and children should be properly restrained in an approved restraint for their weight (see www.childcarrestraints.com.au for more information).
• Drivers and adult passengers face a $500 fine for not wearing a seatbelt and drivers receive four demerit points for a first offence.

There’s no excuse – Belt up.

Ends