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Seat belts can prevent serious
injury or save lives but are often ignored.
People should remember to wear their seat
belts even on short journeys, because if you are involved in a
road accident it
could save lives or prevent serious injuries
Drivers and passengers often don't bother to
wear their seat belts on short urban journeys, particularly the
back seat passengers.
If they are involved in a
car accident the rear passengers not only risk their own
safety, but also that of the people in front when they could be
propelled forward into them.
You can try out a seat belt crash simulator
at
www.thinkseatbelts.com which informs you what types of
injuries can occur from not wearing seat belts with different
occupants and at different speeds.
Wearing seat belts in the front of cars
became compulsory by law in 1982, with estimates saying that 90
percent of front passengers and drivers were soon wearing them.
In 1991 it became compulsory for adults in
the rear of cars to wear seat belts with reports suggesting that
only 40 percent actually did wear them.
The Department for Transport
states that minibuses, coaches and buses (apart from those
designed for urban use with standing passengers) first used on
or after 1 October 2001 must have seat belts fitted by the
manufacturer.
The seat belts must be fitted in all forward
and rearward facing seats, and must meet the technical
requirements set out in European Directives (select
here for the full article).
Not only is it important for adults to
fasten their seat belts, but selecting the
correct child seat and fitting it correctly is also of major
importance and could save a child from serious injury or even
death.
We can offer further help with legal advice
on
whiplash compensation. Contact us today for No win No
fee advice.
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