Buckle up your kids says MayorLatrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, today urged residents to buckle up when travelling in cars. By Latrobe City Council - 22nd November 2000 - Back to News Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, today urged residents to buckle up when travelling in cars.
"Studies show that seat belts are the most effective way of reducing deaths and serious injuries in crashes, but the evidence from crash data is that around 20 per cent of all car occupants killed are not properly restrained," Councillor Hanning said.
"An unrestrained occupant in a vehicle can act as a lethal projectile in the event of a crash with the potential to kill or injure restrained occupants. Therefore it is in everyone’s interest that all occupants are restrained in the vehicle at all times," Councillor Hanning explained.
"This is important even when travelling at slow speeds or for short distances, because most crashes occur within 10 km of home."
Councillor Hanning said that it is particularly distressing that children under the age of eight years have a lower seatbelt wearing rates than adults. In addition it’s vital that a restraint is correctly attached to the vehicle. Research by the RACV suggests that between 60% and 70% of child restraints are fitted incorrectly to the vehicle. Councillor Hanning pointed out that the impact an unrestrained child suffers from a crash at 60 km/h was equivalent to falling from a fourth floor window onto concrete.
"The death or serious injury of a child caused by not wearing a child restraint is a tragedy no parent would want to live with," he said.
Inspector Richard Arnold from Latrobe Police said the Police were pleased to join the Council in their restraint campaign.
He reminded drivers that it is their legal responsibility to ensure passengers under 16 years of age are restrained correctly. Fines of up to $165 and three demerit points can be imposed on drivers who fail to comply.
"During November our officers will be on the look out both for drivers who are not observing their responsibility to young passengers, and for drivers and adult passengers, who are not properly restrained," he said.
Councillor Hanning reminded parents and carers that child restraints need to be appropriate for a child’s size and weight. He said that choosing the right restraint can be difficult, but said expert advice is readily available from local Maternal and Child Health Centres and RACV Restraint Fitting Stations.
For further information contact Community Safety at Latrobe City, telephone 1300 367 700.
Media Enquiries:
Cr. Tony Hanning, Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 373 577
Cr. Brendan Jenkins, Deputy Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 374 590
Ms. Penny Holloway, Chief Executive Officer,
tel. 5173 1401 or 0417 557 103
Jeremy Bein, Public Relations and Communications Officer,
tel. 5173 1468
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com
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