Initiative launched to show children the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Initiative launched to show children the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt

4:30pm Saturday 15th August 2009 in

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A NEW strategy will be rolled out in primary schools to demonstrate the effects of not wearing seatbelts on the back of the Love Your Kids? Belt Them In! campaign.

The Lancashire Telegraph launched the campaign in conjunction with the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety and Blackburn with Darwen Casualty Reduction Team to ensure parents strap their children into the car and use the correct restraints.

Following the launch the Casualty Reduction Team have begun The Dims and The Brights initiative.

They have created a miniature car which travels down a ramp which mimics a 30mph speed.

Two mock families, the Bright's, wearing seatbelts, and the Dims, who are not strapped in, are then shown in the car.

In a demonstration at the launch of the scheme in Blackburn Town Centre both parents and the child from the Dims family were thrown to the front of the car while the Brights stayed in their seats despite a head on crash.

The demonstration will be taken to children through nurseries, primary schools and community centres in the area.

Anthony Van Eijsden, from the Casualty Reduction Team, said: “This is all about being safe in a car and demonstrating the damage that can happen if then driver and passengers do not wear seatbelts.

“We have created the model so we can demonstrate the effects of a crash at 30mph.

“On the first run the Dims family are not wearing seatbelts then we do a second run where the Brights family are wearing seatbelts.

“It is a shock to children when they watch the demonstration especially when the child in the back seat is thrown forward.

“We hope this will help get the message across to young children.”

Mum of two girls Sharon Whitehead, 36, from Darwen, said: “It looks quite horrific especially when the child is flung to the front seat.

“Watching that makes you realise how a seatbelt can save lives and the effects of not wearing one can have.”

The Love Your Kids? Belt Them In! campaign was launched after it was revealed more than half of children questioned in the area were not strapped in by their parents.

Experts say that at just 30mph an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force 30 to 50 times their body weight, putting their lives in danger.