By Joleen Murphy
Every Time. Every Trip. Everybody. Belt Up.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are urging drivers and passengers to always wear a seat belt on every journey.
The call comes as an analysis, by the RSA, of provisional Garda statistics from 2020, shows that over a quarter of drivers and passengers killed in road traffic collisions, were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Speaking to Beat News, Communications Manger with the RSA Brian Farrell says: “While it won’t prevent a crash, wearing a seat belt can reduce the severity of injuries, if you are involved in a crash.
"In fact, wearing one reduces the risk of death among drivers and front seat passengers by half, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear seat occupants by a quarter.”
Mr Sam Waide, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority says; "For most people, putting on their seat belt has become second nature, but as we can see from our analysis of the casualty statistics from 2020, there is still a percentage who don’t.
"These deaths could have been prevented if drivers and passengers had been wearing a seatbelt. I’m asking drivers to make sure they, and any passengers in their car, are wearing a seatbelt before starting a journey.
"Independent research conducted on behalf of the RSA, shows that the majority of under 35s said they would put on a seat belt if the driver asked them to do so. As the RSA’s current seatbelt campaign puts it, nobody ever died asking a mate to wear a seatbelt, ‘Every Time. Every Trip. Everybody. Belt Up.”
Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said: “Seat belts save lives.
"Too often our Gardaí arrive at scenes of traffic collisions and witness first-hand the devastating injuries sustained by drivers and passengers because they were not wearing a seatbelt.
"All drivers and adult passengers in a vehicle are required by law to wear a seat belt. Drivers are responsible for ensuring any passengers under 17 years of age are appropriately restrained.
"As a driver, if you do not use a seatbelt, you risk a fine and three penalty points, which remain on your licence for three years. Passengers over 17 can be fined €60 for not wearing a seatbelt.”
