LARSOA backs new campaign to tell drivers to 'belt-up'

The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) is backing a new campaign to get car drivers and passengers to save lives by 'belting up' this winter.

A new government campaign encouraging people to wear seat belts is being launched today (Monday 3 November). It will target young men and women aged between 17 and 24 which is the group with the lowest seat belt wearing rates and the highest accident rate.

The new THINK! campaign aims to challenge the belief some people have that there are low risk journeys and shock drivers and passengers by showing the dramatic consequences of not wearing a seat belt if you have a crash.

Alan Kennedy, Vice Chair of LARSOA, said: "Campaigns like this really can save lives on the roads. Wearing a seat belt is one of the best ways of saving your life if you are involved in an accident while you are in a car. It is amazing how many people of all ages choose to put themselves and other passengers in danger by not wearing a seat belt."

The THINK! Campaign starts on Monday 3 November and lasts through until early December. It uses a mix of radio, TV, online and street advertising.

Notes to editors:

For further information, or to arrange an interview with a member of the LARSOA team, contact Chris Taylor at DTW on 01287 610 404.

ABOUT LARSOA

LARSOA is a national road safety organisation representing road safety officers (RSOs) employed in local government across the UK.

LARSOA represents 185 of the 200 eligible local authorities across the UK, assisting RSOs to fulfil their statutory role to reduce the number and severity of road casualties through education, training and publicity programmes.

LARSOA publishes an up-to-date round-up of road safety news from across the UK on its website www.larsoa.org.uk .

LARSOA also aims to influence national debate - government policy and action together with public opinion. The association works to achieve national recognition for road safety issues, commissions research into behaviour which contributes to road collisions and develops national road safety campaigns.

The association assists in identifying achievable national targets to reduce the number of collisions on the country's roads.