Council staff take part in national seatbelt campaign

Shetland Islands Council staff are participating in a national seatbelt campaign, which began today and runs until Sunday.

Last year the Scottish government released Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, in which one of the priorities was to promote use of seatbelts. This year the government, Road Safety Scotland and the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) decided to have a national campaign to encourage greater and more frequent compliance.

The SIC opted for a week-long promotion which includes posters in all the council offices, stickers on council vehicles, distribution of seatbelt pads and rear windscreen stickers.

The vehicle and windscreen stickers show the Year of the Seatbelt logo, which is a seatbelt with the words “Have you Clicked?” The stickers and seatbelt pads are free to the public and if anyone would like one they are asked to contact the road safety unit on (01595) 744560.

Councillor Allan Wishart, chairman of the Road Safety Advisory Panel, said: “The trends in seatbelt offences were dropping between 2005 and 2007 but had risen again in 2008. We need to be vigilant and remember to put on our seatbelts on every trip we make. Children imitate what they see their parents doing and for their benefit we must set them a good example and teach them their seatbelt could save their life should they ever be in an accident.”