Results from a recent pan-European seatbelt operation show that nearly 100,000 drivers and passengers were detected for not wearing seatbelts.

A total of 25 countries took part in the operation, which was co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).

Out of the 97,489 offences, 3,539 related to children not wearing seatbelts or other safety restraints and the remaining 93,950 offences related to adult occupants.

Nearly a third of all seatbelt offences were registered in Germany, with 30,881 people caught. The second highest number of offences were recorded in Romania, with 20,524 people caught, while the UK was third with 6,631 seatbelt offences.

TISPOL president Koen Ricour said: "The use of seatbelts is the single most effective method of reducing injury in motor vehicle collisions.

“Experts have estimated that increased seatbelt wearing as the result of national legislation and police enforcement has reduced fatalities by more than 20%.

“Research has shown that the use of child restraints can make a big contribution to reducing the severity of road accident injuries and that a child aged under four is 10 times more likely to be killed in a car crash if unrestrained. That’s why wearing a seatbelt is not a matter of choice, but something every vehicle occupant must do.”

Stopping drivers for seatbelt also provides police officers with the opportunity to make other appropriate safety and security checks.

For example, during the week of this speed operation operation, officers also detected and dealt with offences connected with illegal immigration and human trafficking (41), possession of drugs (245), firearms (15) and stolen goods (25), as well as 3,935 other crimes.

The TISPOL Organisation was established by the traffic police forces of Europe in order to improve road safety and law enforcement on the roads of Europe.

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