Poor enforcement blamed for low seatbelt use

ABOUT 129 drivers who survived accidents in 2005 owe their lives to their seatbelts and another 26 could have been saved had they been wearing theirs, according to a new road-safety report.

Ireland’s poor seat belt behaviour is blamed on a failure to enforce the law which allows for fines of up to €90 and four penalty points for all travellers not wearing seat belts.

Just 86% of Irish drivers belt up compared to over 95% in France and Germany, where almost universal seat belt wear has halved the road deaths of car and van drivers.