DYFED-Powys Police is backing the All Wales seatbelt campaign.

As part of the two week initiative, officers are stopping cars in which drivers and passengers are not wearing seatbelts. The campaign aims to educate and advise the public of the dangers of not wearing a seat belt and how buckling up can reduce the consequences of a collision and the number of road deaths.

During last year's two week campaign, 1,039 people in Dyfed-Powys were stopped for failing to wear a seatbelt. There were 12 recorded instances of children not wearing a seatbelt.

Both drivers and passengers can be fined £100 for not wearing a seatbelt and can be prosecuted. Any child under the age of 14 who is not buckled in is the responsibility of the driver and the driver can be fined.

Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said: “We want to encourage people to recognise the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt and we know that there are still people across Wales who are taking that risk.

“Wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death so drivers and passengers need to realise the importance of belting up not only for their own safety but for others also.”

Chief Inspector Martyn Stone, South Wales Police Specialist Operations added: “During the campaign, all four Welsh forces will have officers checking drivers and passengers offering advice and issuing tickets in instances where seatbelts are not being worn.”

“We have made a lot of progress educating drivers about other dangers of driving, but there are still a number of people who don’t routinely belt up as they get in their car. It is not just drivers, but passengers as well. If you are a passenger and do not wear a seatbelt, you can be fined. We hope that getting this message out over the next two weeks will encourage everyone to think differently when they get in their cars”.

For further information on how to keep you and your family safe, please visit http://think.direct.gov.uk/seat-belts.html