20% of fatal crash victims had no belt on

Some 1,100 motorists are being prosecuted every month for not wearing seat belts.

Figures show 24 drivers or passengers, who were not belted up, have lost their lives so far this year. This translates to one in five of all road deaths up to the end of October.

The figures prompted calls for greater driver responsibility by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan at the launch of the Christmas Road Safety Campaign and the announcement of new legislative measures aimed at combating drug driving.