MERSEYSIDE Police are echoing Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's reminder to road users to 'belt up in the back' on the 20th anniversary of mandatory seatbelt wearing.
It is estimated that 2,500 lives have been saved in the north west since mandatory seat belt wearing for front seat passengers and drivers was introduced in 1983.
However, the force has echoed calls for rear seat passengers to be responsible and belt up in the back, as nearly half of all adult passengers are estimated to not wear their seatbelts.
Traffic inspector Dave Bell of Merseyside Police said: "Everyone knows that the law states that they must wear a seatbelt, but many people don't realise how dangerous it can be not to wear a seatbelt when sitting in the back of a vehicle.
"In a collision at 30mph, if a person is not wearing a seatbelt, they could hit the front seat or anyone sitting in it, with a force of up to 60 times their own body weight. The results can be fatal."
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