‘Belt Up!’ people of Hull are told

A campaign to encourage drivers and passengers in Hull to belt up in the car
was launched in dramatic fashion on Monday 29 April.

To demonstrate the effect of an impact at 20mph police and road safety officers dropped a head sized melon from a platform 30ft above Queen Victoria Square in Hull city centre. The campaign is a joint initiative between Kingston upon Hull City Council and Humberside Police.

Regular surveys show that about one in 10 drivers and front seat passengers in the Hull area are not wearing belts - and the situation is much worse in the back with around four in 10 not buckling up. The school run seems to be a particular problem with close to one third of children making the journey without the protection of a seat belt.

"Seat belts save lives," says Hull City Council RSO Andy Deyes. "An unrestrained back seat passenger can be thrown forward in a smash, killing or seriously injuring anyone sitting in front. Perhaps some drivers don’t realise the damage that can be done in a crash, even at relatively low
speeds. Hitting the windscreen at 20 mph is about the same as falling from 30ft."

Information on the seat belt law and free safety checks on the installation of child seats are being provided by the road safety section in Hull. For further information about this campaign contact Andy Deyes or Mark Jessop at road safety on 01482 612108.