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Sixty caught in East Lancashire seatbelt check

11:03am Tuesday 15th September 2009 in


SIXTY people were given fixed penalty notices for failing to wear seatbelts as police staged a crackdown as part of the Love Your Kids? Belt them In! campaign.

More than 300 motorists were stopped at checkpoints yesterday across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

Every police officer in the Eastern Division’s Road Policing Unit took part in the huge drive.

The action comes after the Lancashire Telegraph teamed up with road safety groups to launch the campaign urging parents to ensure their children are always belted in.

Both young and older people were stopped during the checks yesterday.

Police said motorists gave excuses such as they simply forgot and they were only going a short distance.

The fixed penalty notices are for £60.

PC Kate Brady, an officer in the road policing unit, said: “You are more likely to have an accident on short journey. People think because they know the area it doesn’t matter. The numbers we saw yesterday were nothing out of the ordinary for us. I can fine 15 people a week for not wearing a seatbelt.

“Accidents can become much more serious even on short journeys if people aren’t wearing seatbelts.

“A passenger in the back who isn’t belted up can kill the people in front of them, even if the driver is wearing a seatbelt.

“We find more people don’t wear seatbelts compared to other motoring offences. Wearing a seatbelt should be automatic.

“It takes seconds and then you are safe.”

Police officers also visited schools and gave advice to parents about correct seat restraints and belting their children up before setting off on the crackdown.

Love Your Kids? Belt Them In! was launched last month after shock figures revealed more than half of local child-ren do not wear seatbelts in the car.

Comments(30)

masrock says...
11:32am Tue 15 Sep 09

It seems to have become fashionable for the intelligence challenged in our region not to no wear a seat belt. Rather like driving with fog lights and side lights was last year. I thought this was just the stupidity of young males trying to macho who believe that they can fight the forces of physics in a crash, but then I saw a whole Asian family, husband, wife, children and Grandma- all unrestrained in their car. Stupidity must be contagious!

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Izanears says...
11:43am Tue 15 Sep 09

And forget they might also have been using mobile phones while driving without seat belts as well!

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Incoming Fax says...
11:44am Tue 15 Sep 09

I was once behind a Rover on the M62 heading towards Burnley etc. and couldn't believe my eyes that there was a little girl (probs 3-4) standing up on the back seat of the car whilst it was travelling 80mph on the motorway...

Shocking!

If you're driving a car and you feel great resentment towards your seatbelt then fair enough don't wear it and risk your life, but never, ever, leave a child un-belted!


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BR FC says...
12:12pm Tue 15 Sep 09

When will the Police be pro-active and catch drivers whilst using mobile phones. On my reckoning, 1 in 10 drivers are using their phones when they shouldn't be.

I saw a girl yesteday driving through Darwen (A666) like she had the right to be using it.

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joany49 says...
12:30pm Tue 15 Sep 09

I wonder whether it is the same stupid woman who nearly crashed into the back of me on wednesday of last week, followed me from the services roundabout all the way to Ewood and never took the phone away from her ear once until she had to swerve to avoid me at the lights near the Red Brick Theatre, if anyone had been crossing the road she would have hit them. I'm not a fan of road cameras but it is time there was one dedicated to these imbeciles who put the rest of us at risk.

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Mike Costa says...
12:33pm Tue 15 Sep 09

BR FC wrote:
When will the Police be pro-active and catch drivers whilst using mobile phones. On my reckoning, 1 in 10 drivers are using their phones when they shouldn't be. I saw a girl yesteday driving through Darwen (A666) like she had the right to be using it.
Mike Costa says:

Absolutely correct. All the polices need to do is stand on any kerbside and they could catch hundreds of imbeciles with their mobiles stuck to their ear.
In fact, it seems to be obligatory if you are under 30 to flaunt this law. I've witnessed some horrendous pieces of driving by these morons.Crack down on them. Its an easy job and will get your prosecution figures up.

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righteousjudgement says...
1:15pm Tue 15 Sep 09

What all you idiots fail to realise is; the cops had a field day at the expence of innocent civilians. £60 a pop over 300 booked means £18,000!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
and to make matters worse "Every police officer in the Eastern Division’s Road Policing Unit took part in the huge drive" who the f*** was tackling real crime?????

its thanks to nincompoops like the ones posted above that cops get away with things like this! if the give so much of a s**t about the welfare of children i suggest they go out catching drug dealers that could supply them, or peadophiles that could abuse them or even fix potholes in the street that they could trip over, but to target innocent hard working parents is outrageous! And so what if a young fool behind the wheel is not wearing a seat belt, if he crashes its him that will suffer the broken nose or worst still a broken neck. thats his perogative!!!!

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Darwen Tower says...
1:55pm Tue 15 Sep 09

I take it the last poster got caught then!! I agree with all you say. However, wearing of a seatbelt is the law and the law was passed to protect people. People not wearing seatbelts who then have accidents cost us all money. Sure the driver may get hurt but it's the Police and NHS that has to pick up the pieces. As for unrestrained children, the driver should be fined much more than £60 to ensure they understand their stupidity could hurt others.

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jcb says...
1:56pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Righteousjudgement, you are obviously a moron of the highest level. It is the law to wear a seatbelt, it is the law not to drive using a phone. If the morons who break these laws used a bit of common sense and abided by them, the police would then be free to tackle real crime as you put it.

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billy32 says...
2:34pm Tue 15 Sep 09

PC Kate Brady, an officer in the road policing unit, said: I can fine 15 people a week for not wearing a seatbelt.
Well why doesn't she uphold the law as she is supposed to, the more people who get find the sooner it will sink in.

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shellywelly says...
3:07pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Personally speaking I am honestly glad that the police are tackling these so called minor offences. I understand that there are probably a lot of very serious crimes that need addressing but I do believe that these stop checks and fines could save a child's life. If a parent is so negligent as to drive without belting their kids in then they deserve a much larger fine and to be put on the register for neglecting children.
Children should be taught to respect the law from a young age along with manners and courtesy. Many people just see their children as a right to benefits and this is were problems develop. These kids go on to be the troublesome teenagers and young adults with criminal records.
As for adults not belting up then its their own choice but if they crash, their insurance should be slashed to 3rd party only and they should be made to pay for their treatment and the attendance of any emergency services. A big dent in their pocket and no car to drive would make them think twice.

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easymonies says...
3:18pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Its a shame only 60 were given fixed penalty notices. I'm sure more were stopped but judgment was probably used on who to fine. Hopefully there will be another purge very soon as people will think, 'well that's that' we should be safe now for another 3 months.

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Izanears says...
3:32pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Three youths were out in an untaxed/unlicenced car. The car crashed near to where I live. The one in the back was not wearing a seatbelt.
He was thown out, his injuries turned him into a paraplegic. He got eight million pounds damages!!!!!!

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twicki says...
3:59pm Tue 15 Sep 09

What i would like to know is what happens to this money that they make. I agree seatbelts are their to save lives and the sooner people realise that the better and as for mobile phones think they need to spend a bit more time dealing with that. If you hadn't noticed righteousjudgment it was the road traffic division that was out and surprisingly it is a big part of what they do hence the road part in their title. My only concern is that the money should be ploughed back into our hospitals locally to make sure that the money stays in the community and helps improve it.

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midas says...
4:41pm Tue 15 Sep 09

I think the money goes to crime prevention.

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midas says...
4:41pm Tue 15 Sep 09

I think the money goes to crime prevention.

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brian jones says...
5:22pm Tue 15 Sep 09

I like to think of it as natural selection.

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Harry Bosch says...
9:15pm Tue 15 Sep 09

righteousjudgement wrote:
What all you idiots fail to realise is; the cops had a field day at the expence of innocent civilians. £60 a pop over 300 booked means £18,000!!!!!!!!!!!! ! and to make matters worse "Every police officer in the Eastern Division’s Road Policing Unit took part in the huge drive" who the f*** was tackling real crime????? its thanks to nincompoops like the ones posted above that cops get away with things like this! if the give so much of a s**t about the welfare of children i suggest they go out catching drug dealers that could supply them, or peadophiles that could abuse them or even fix potholes in the street that they could trip over, but to target innocent hard working parents is outrageous! And so what if a young fool behind the wheel is not wearing a seat belt, if he crashes its him that will suffer the broken nose or worst still a broken neck. thats his perogative!!!!
This comment is clearly from a person caught fair and square by the cops!!
I take it you actually read the telegraph? Just recently the cops have had numerous stories of class A dealers caught by pro-active teams in both Easten & Pennine divisions. Errr, it's not the job of the police to fix potholes! Can you imagine the uproar from the public if a cop was sent to fill in a pothole.
I speak as a law abiding member of the public who wears his seatbelt, makes sure his kids are sat in the proper seats and secured & doesn't use his mobile when driving. Well done Lancs Constabulary. Keep our roads safe and target any form of criminal driving.
You wont get me, cos I am legal and look after my kids. Righteousjudgement on the other hand is a sitting duck. Go get im boys!!

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Harry Bosch says...
9:17pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Izanears wrote:
Three youths were out in an untaxed/unlicenced car. The car crashed near to where I live. The one in the back was not wearing a seatbelt. He was thown out, his injuries turned him into a paraplegic. He got eight million pounds damages!!!!!!
The point being....??

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joany49 says...
10:55pm Tue 15 Sep 09

the point Mr Harry Bosch is that I and millions like me have to pay higher insurance premiums so that some dumb git can ride around without a seat belt on, sit in the back of a car without a seat belt on then you deserve all you get, personally I'd leave such numbskulls at the side of the road with a plaque around his kneck as a warning to others.

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Lifeinthemix says...
10:57pm Tue 15 Sep 09

Hi All.

EEhh do you know, I do feel so much safer now I know over sixty 'REAL' criminals have been aprehended by our poilicemen.
.
Why do they not publisize this aspect of their persona :
.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=cg3pXiPkl
8E

.
And before you all start I am not anti police, if ever we needed a good police service it is now. The problem is things are not good within the police as many of the good ones will tell you. The wrong type of attitude is being allowed into policing matters, Common Purpose have their claws into the leadership big time, which is protected by Freemasonry.
.
We the people need to support the good coppers so they can move to do their job and expose the wrong doing within the police itself. Expose the chiefs who operate not for we the taxpayer to which they are mandated, but for a foreign power, the United Nations.
.
What many of you are not aware of is the fact that under pandemic level six, called on June 11 2009 by the WHO, the United Nations takes full control of all 194 signatory nations to the International Health Regulations (IHR), their police forces and all medical operations.
.
Under Common law to hand power from this country to a foreign body is treason, to know an act of treason is being carried out and to do nothing is also treason.
.
It is the police's job to hunt down treason as they would hunt the murderer of a child, so we the people need to file charges against the government and crown at all police stations... for treason, so the good police can do their job and arrest the treasonous operatives....bingo we get our country back and we confiscate all the assets belonging to the crown.

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xrjxmon says...
12:18am Wed 16 Sep 09

Doesn't say anywhere the districts they did this wonderful excercise. I would bet money though that they never went within a mile of Audley range, Whalley Range or Preston New Road.
It wouldn't do to upset the residents there would it???

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easymonies says...
4:46am Wed 16 Sep 09

xrjxmon wrote:
Doesn't say anywhere the districts they did this wonderful excercise. I would bet money though that they never went within a mile of Audley range, Whalley Range or Preston New Road.
It wouldn't do to upset the residents there would it???
Of course they didn't, they would be accused of being racist and selective if they did. Shame though as they would have trebled their tickets issued.

Wonder how many taxi's were caught in the sting.

As commented earlier - et out there again today and tomorrow, do a blitz only pick on people with Mobiles as well.

WOW - debt-town - security words. How approriate

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midas says...
9:44am Wed 16 Sep 09

Taxi drivers are exempt from wearing searbelts!
.
Nice to see lifeinthemix back!
.
Clunk Click every trip!! its not rocket science!

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righteousjudgement says...
10:43am Wed 16 Sep 09

xrjxmon wrote:
Doesn't say anywhere the districts they did this wonderful excercise. I would bet money though that they never went within a mile of Audley range, Whalley Range or Preston New Road. It wouldn't do to upset the residents there would it???
Whats your point? Isn't it in your best interest for them not carry out such Awareness Campaigns in these areas??? After all the more kill themselves the better as far as your concerned right?

OR

MAYBE....

JUST MAYBE.....

The cops would rather invest their time in your areas because they know it will be more lucrative as more of your neighbours don't wear seatbelts than those of the aformentioned areas???

personally i would rather the cops shovel s**t than waste their time trying to get people to wear seatbelts "Inadvertantly saving lives some how"???????


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BR FC says...
1:18pm Wed 16 Sep 09

righteousjudgement wrote:
What all you idiots fail to realise is; the cops had a field day at the expence of innocent civilians. £60 a pop over 300 booked means £18,000!!!!!!!!!!!! ! and to make matters worse "Every police officer in the Eastern Division’s Road Policing Unit took part in the huge drive" who the f*** was tackling real crime????? its thanks to nincompoops like the ones posted above that cops get away with things like this! if the give so much of a s**t about the welfare of children i suggest they go out catching drug dealers that could supply them, or peadophiles that could abuse them or even fix potholes in the street that they could trip over, but to target innocent hard working parents is outrageous! And so what if a young fool behind the wheel is not wearing a seat belt, if he crashes its him that will suffer the broken nose or worst still a broken neck. thats his perogative!!!!
They are not innocent civilians, they are drivers / passengers breaking the law. And for sixty quid fine, this is an insult, it should be ten times this.

And for mobile phone usage, drivers should be instantly banned.

Maybe this harse treatment would make drivers keep within the law, then The Police, can get on with the real stuff of catching criminals.

It's not rocket science is it.

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masrock says...
2:55pm Wed 16 Sep 09

righteousjudgement "personally i would rather the cops shovel s**t than waste their time trying to get people to wear seatbelts "Inadvertantly saving lives some how"???????"

Sound like you'd prefer an ambulance down in the valley rather than a fence at the top of the cliff.

You see it's the sudden loss of speed from say 30 to zero in 0.3 seconds in a crash. Even if you have time to lift up your arms the energy involved is like jumping from a second story balcony onto a glass table. No amount of bracing against the wheel with your arms can stop you becoming a projectile through the windscreen, often out of the car and into the bent metal/ tree/ building you've just crashed into.

The seatbelt holds you in place and limits what your head and body impacts on, moreover it keeps you in the right position so you don't fly over the airbag - if your car has one. so it can help mitigate the impact damage too.

That's how it save lives. Now you know.

If you want to practice, just jump head first onto glass table from successive higher platforms.

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Lifeinthemix says...
4:14pm Wed 16 Sep 09

Hi All.

I know lets ban cars, and eating, and breathing....
.
O I forgot, they are offering vaccinations from October 1st, that will sort it....

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KarenH says...
11:02pm Sat 19 Sep 09

I agree to bigger fines when it comes to driving offences.

While on M6 I saw a women attempting to drive her car while reading documents placed infront of her on the stearing wheel while reading it out to someone on the other end of the phone while on loud speaker and you could clearly see the mobile phone in her hand... now could this or could not be while she was only doing 60mph in the 3rd lane???? an accident waiting to happen if you ask me!

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SoapBox says...
1:47pm Mon 21 Sep 09

After visiting the illuminations in Blackpool at the weekend I was amazed to see that irresponsible parents still allow their children to hang out of the sunroofs in the slow moving traffic...these kids are unaware of the injuries they'd receive in a 10-15mph shunt while protruding out of the tops of cars, their so called parents should have their licences furnished with points as well as receiving a hefty fine to highlight the seriousness of the offence, not only is it illegal it is gross stupidity!
It's a shame some of these officers are not deployed in plain clothes on the promenade to catch these idiots in the act.

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