Trauma time to belt up

By Kelly Yates
NARRE Warren, Endeavour Hills and Cranbourne are high on the list of areas with the highest road trauma as a result of people failing to wear a seatbelt in 2009.
Victoria Police released the list last week, with Narre Warren recording 29 collisions involving people who failed to buckle up.
Cranbourne closely followed with 24 collisions including one fatality and Endeavour Hills with 18. Casey Highway Patrol Sergeant Pat McGavigan said Casey drivers continued to ignore the warnings about failing to wear seatbelts.
“Casey police will continue to enforce seatbelts through the use of unmarked cars and motorcycles, which detect the greatest amount of seatbelt offences,” Sgt McGavigan said.
Operation Pinball ran in the City of Casey from 2 August to 14 August to mark the 40th anniversary of compulsory seatbelt laws in Victoria. Sgt McGavigan said police booked 76 people for not wearing seatbelts during the two-week operation.
“It is not a proud statistic to be in the top area for failing to wear seatbelts but be assured Casey police will continue to enforce for people choosing to fail to wear a seatbelt,” he said.
Road trauma statistics prove that restraint wearing reduces road trauma, says Sgt McGavigan. “Drivers choose to wear or not to wear seatbelts,” he said.
“When you get in a car you must wear it. The most common reason is “I forgot” but it has been mandatory to wear seatbelts for 40 years.”
Inspector David Griffin said last year, 30 per cent of people killed in Victorian road accidents were not wearing a seatbelt.
“We could have had 41 more people in our community if people listened to the simple message to buckle up because the reality is these deaths can be prevented.
Most injuries are caused by contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, windscreen and doors which are greatly reduced when a safety belt is worn.”
Motorists caught without a seatbelt will receive a $239 fine and lose three demerit points. Unrestrained passengers also face a $239 fine.