The Minister said “The Seatbelt Sheriff is a new initiative to encourage children to make sure that everyone travelling in the car is wearing a seat belt. DOE’s Road Safety Education Officers will be promoting the Seatbelt Sheriff in primary schools across Northern Ireland. Children can take the Seatbelt Sheriff pledge and will be issued with a new resource pack.”
Arlene Foster said that many children had already met Skooter the Seatbelt Sheriff during their visit to the Show and added “Our statistics show that fifteen per cent of children between 5 and 13 years old still travel unrestrained in the back of a car. As a parent myself I have to say that this beggars belief and I am determined to change that statistic. The law is clear - children must be properly restrained in a car. Remember: No Seatbelt No Excuse.”
The Seatbelt Sheriff initiative builds on seat belt and child restraint campaigns launched in October 2006 and child restraints legislation which came into force in Northern Ireland in February 2007.
Pictured are the Environment Minister and Seatbelt Sheriff Skooter: http://roadsafety.doeni.gov.uk/applications/Minister_with_Seatbelt_Sherriff.JPG
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- ‘Skooter’ is a cartoon cat featured in the road safety Teaching Aid Calendar issued free each year to every classroom in every nursery and primary school in Northern Ireland.
- The Seatbelt Sheriff pledge urges children to make sure that everyone travelling in the car is wearing their seat belt.
- The penalty for failing to wear a seat belt currently carries a fine of £30 or if you go to court a maximum fine of £500 and £200 in respect of children in the rear of a vehicle.
- New legislation coming in later this year will introduce 3 penalty points and a £60 fixed penalty notice for not wearing a seatbelt.
- For further media information contact DOE Press Office on 02890540003
