13 in car, only 2 wearing seat belts

Police in Auckland pulled over a vehicle carrying 13 people and found only two wearing seat belts.

Inspector Trevor Beggs, Waitemata road policing manager, said the car, pulled over by an officer in Auckland, was carrying five adults and eight children. The two adults in the front seats were the only occupants wearing seat belts.

``I don't even want to think what the outcome would have been if they had been involved in a crash,'' Beggs said.

``No one gets into a vehicle expecting to crash.

``But we know people make mistakes, so why would you not take all steps possible to prevent harm coming to yourself and passengers in your vehicle? It takes two seconds to buckle up, and it could save your life in a crash.''

He said there were 100 deaths last year associated with people not wearing seat belts, and 92 the previous year, which was ``very disappointing''.

``We're so much more aware these days of how a seat belt can prevent serious injury or death in a crash - so why are we not using them?'' Beggs says.

Front-seat occupants had a 60 per cent reduction in the risk of sustaining a fatal or serious injury if they crashed while wearing their seat belt, and rear-seat passengers had a 44 per cent reduction.

Auckland Transport, which was supporting the campaign by reminding people to ``buckle up buttercup'' through radio advertising and giveaways, wants the increase in deaths associated with non-restraint use to stop.

``From 2012 to 2016 there have been 61 unrestrained vehicle deaths,'' said walking, cycling and safety manager Kathryn King ``That is far too many.

``Putting on your seat belt, and ensuring all of those in your vehicle do too, is a simple thing you can do to keep yourself and those you love safe.

``Drivers make mistakes, a seat belt could be the difference between surviving that mistake and not, so buckle up buttercup.''

Automobile Association spokesman Barney Irvine said recent signs that seat belt non-compliance was on the rise were alarming:

``We thought the issue of seatbelt use was largely done and dusted, but recent data suggests we've got a way to go yet.

``Buckling up is one of the simplest things drivers can do to keep themselves and their families safe, and we strongly support this effort to get the message out there.''

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