Campaign shows drivers 'shocking reality'

Motorists in Salford caught driving without wearing a seatbelt have been shown the 'shocking results' of what can happen if they are involved in a collision.

A campaign organised by Salford Council Road Casualty Reduction Group, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service netted over 90 offenders in 2.5 hours, either not wearing a seatbelt or using a hand-held mobile phone.

Police officers pulled over vehicles with unbelted occupants and gave them the option of taking the usual £30 on-the-spot-fine, or watching a hard-hitting presentation showing the potential consequences of their behaviour. The presentation, which showed real-life injuries and fatalities, was delivered by fire fighters.

Ian Johnson, from the Fire and Rescue service, said: "It is very difficult to put into words what we are faced with, so in this 20-minute presentation we show the kind of injuries you might suffer."

Children whose parents were stopped watched a separate child-friendly presentation by RSOs.

Don Isherwood, Salford's senior RSO, added: "Simply hitting people in the pocket doesn't always change people's attitudes. The object of this exercise was to illustrate the real dangers that they are exposing themselves and their children to."

For further info contact Paul Anderton on 0161 779 4865, or paul.anderton@urbanvision.org.uk