Drivers need to click on safety

CARELESS drivers are continuing to put lives at risk by failing to wear seatbelts and using mobile phones behind the wheel.

Transport Accident Commission data reveals 13 people killed in crashes across the Barwon South West region between 2016-20 were not wearing seatbelts.

Across Victoria last year, 23 people killed in crashes were not wearing seatbelts, leading the TAC to reintroduce its groundbreaking buckle-up road safety campaign.

Shocked police detected 76 drivers flouting these basic road rules during an operation across Geelong this week.

Drivers using phones were issued with a $496 fine and received four demerit points, while those not wearing seatbelts were fined $145.

Geelong highway patrol Sergeant Megan De Winne said many drivers “aren’t getting the message”.

“It is concerning because in 26 per cent of Victoria’s fatalities last year those who lost their lives weren’t wearing a seatbelt,” Sergeant De Winne said.

“We concentrate on reducing fatalities, that’s our job … and it’s a concerning number.”

According to the TAC, a recent survey found 98 per cent of drivers and 97 per cent of passengers buckled up all the time, meaning about 170,000 licence holders did not always wear a seatbelt.

Sergeant De Winne said many drivers apprehended for not wearing seatbelts were sitting on buckled belts or said they were only travelling a short distance.

“I think people are used to not wearing them and are lazy and not putting them on — the attitude is (a crash) is not going to happen,” she said.

“All it takes is a vehicle to hit you on the wrong spot and if you’re not wearing a seatbelt you’ll have a serious injury or you will die.”

Sergeant De Winne said police were also alarmed by drivers who continued to use phones behind the wheel.

“We’ve had enough seeing collisions time and time again that could have been avoided,” she said.

TAC manager of road safety behaviour innovation and technology David Young said buckling up and putting away mobile phones were among the simplest actions drivers could take to stay safe.

“Looking at your phone when driving is like driving blind — if you are tempted, put it away altogether or activate your phone’s ‘do not disturb while driving’ mode,” Mr Young said.

Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll urged drivers to abide by the rules.

“The evidence has been clear for more than 50 years — seatbelts save lives and reduce serious injury, yet we still see too many tragedies that could have been avoided if people buckled up,” Mr Carroll said.