Dozens of drivers found by Cleveland and Durham police unit risking lives during seatbelt campaign

A man who was banned from keeping animals and a driver who started a dangerous pursuit were also amongst 89 drivers stopped as part of the national campaign supported by the joint Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit from May 31 to June 13.

The granddad was one of three people issued with fixed penalty notices for not making sure children in their vehicles were suitably restrained by wearing the appropriate seatbelts.

Another man was found to be in breach of an RSPCA disqualification order when he was stopped, while another driver started a pursuit when officers asked him to pull over for not wearing his seatbelt. He was later arrested for dangerous driving.

Strategic Inspector Dave Williams, from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Thankfully no one was injured as a result of these drivers’ behaviour but it could have been a whole different story, especially where children are involved.

“In a crash you would be twice as likely to die without wearing a seatbelt and not doing so not only puts you at risk, but your passengers and other road users as well.

“The results of this campaign further prove that people are still putting their lives in danger, more than 30 years after seatbelts were made a legal requirement.

"This is not acceptable and we will continue to educate and enforce, where necessary, to save as many lives as we can.”

Failure to wear a seatbelt carries a £100 fine.

For more information, visit www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law.

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