Belt up and live (From Barry And District News)

Belt up and live

HUNDREDS of Barry children are being put at risk by their own parents every day - because they aren't belting up.

A survey conducted by the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Road Safety officers has highlighted an alarming numbers of parents who allow their children to ride home in the back of the car without being securely strapped in.

School-run traffic monitored outside 22 Vale primary schools between January and June showed that 69 percent of children did not wear a seat belt.

Setting the best examples were Evenlode in Penarth and Llancarfen in the Vale, topping an average of 80 percent.

Motorists are now warned that they face being fined £1,000 if their passengers do not wear a rear seat belt.

Department of Transport figures reveal that drivers and front seat passengers are five times more likely to die in a collision if their rear seat passengers fail to belt up.

There was a 53 percent increase in children killed in cars in 2001.

A two-week crackdown, which started on Tuesday November 12 and will run until Tuesday November 26, has been launched by all four Welsh police forces.

In support, the Vale of Glamorgan Council Road Safety team will visit primary schools to advise on the dangers of leaving children unrestrained in cars.

Senior road safety officer for the Vale's Planning and Transportation Division Mike Dacey issued a stark warning to parents: "Unbelted rear seat passengers are a danger to themselves and to everyone else in the vehicle in the event of a crash."

A colouring competition is being run for infants and primary school children.

The forms are available from the council's Civic Offices, Dock Offices, libraries and leisure centres.

For more information, telephone 01446 704774.