Wear your Seatbelt!.

As we enter the New Year with excitement at the fresh challenges we may face, the weather has decided to give us some added difficulties with sub-zero temperatures, but it is shocking how many drivers fail to take care, not only of their own safety but that of their passengers.

This week the RAC released figures regarding the fatality rates in road traffic accidents where seatbelts were not worn, these figures showed a worrying increase. The RAC have indicated that 29% of fatalities were males and 37% were individuals between 35 and 44 years young.

As someone who starts work early, usually being in the office from 7.15 am, it amazes me how many cars I pass do not have their headlights on, and I never quite understand how, when they look at their dashboard, they cannot see something is wrong. The use of headlights is a simple safety precaution to take, it allows other drivers to see you. Of course another simple safety precaution is to ensure you buckle up and wear your seatbelt.

It’s the responsibility of the driver to ensure any passengers, up to the age of 14, are also safely buckled in. I am shocked at the latest figures from the Department of Transport. Based on the five year period ending 2023, figures have shown 40% of back seat passengers, who have lost their lives as a result of a road traffic accident, were not wearing their seatbelts.

In recent years I have seen an increase in the number of road traffic accidents involving young drivers and passengers, where catastrophic injuries have been sustained and the majority of these injured persons were, thankfully, wearing their seatbelts. I have no doubt that the outcome for some of these would have been even worse if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.

Whilst vehicle safety has advanced significantly since I first passed my driving test and drove a Mini Metro that required the use of WD40 spray if it went through a puddle of water(!), the dangers of driving on the road, the speeds on the roads and the unpredictability of other drivers has not. It makes no sense not to take simple safety precautions where you can. No one wants a family member to be one of the statistics, so buckle up and stay safe out there!