News

6 February 2008
HUNDREDS FACE FINES FOR FORGETTING ROAD SAFETY LAWS

Over 400 motorists and passengers throughout Scotland failed to ‘belt up’ during the speeding and seatbelt ‘day of action’ conducted by the country’s eight police forces under the auspices of the Association of the Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).

Nearly 40 percent of those caught were drivers or passengers in light goods / commercial vehicles, according to figures released today by the Association.

“Clearly the message is not getting across to a number of motorists and passengers,” said Assistant Chief Constable Jim Green (Strathclyde), Secretary of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area.

Road policing officers across Scotland participated in a 24-hour-long campaign, the first in a series of four to be conducted during 2008 by Scottish police forces in conjunction with ACPOS, to drive home the message of road safety.   

The ‘Speeding and Seatbelt Day of Action’, conducted between 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and 7:00 a.m. Wednesday throughout the country, saw 419 people ticketed after they chose to ignore the law. The minimum penalty is a £30 fine and it can go up to £500.

Motorists and passengers in light goods / commercial vehicles (vans) were a primary focus for the day-long campaign that saw:

• 138 drivers, 21 front seat passengers and one rear seat passenger in vans; and,
• 238 drivers of other vehicles with 20 passengers in the front and one in the rear being ticketed.

“Motorists must remember that a collision could happen anywhere, anytime and that an injury could result even if the vehicle is moving at a slow speed,” Mr. Green stressed.

“The law is clear.  Wearing seatbelts has been mandatory for over 25 years in the UK,” he continued, “so there is no excuse for not ‘belting up’.”

“Scotland’s road policing officers are out on our country’s roads every day of the year to enforce road laws,” ACC Green concluded. “If you fail to wear your seatbelt or speed, we will catch you.  It is not a case of ‘if’ but a case of ‘when’.  Don’t risk it!  Belt up and observe the posted speed and road/traffic conditions!”