Zero Seatbelt Tolerance
From 3 May, motorists have been liable for an instant $150 fine for failing to ensure children are buckled in or for failing to wear a seat belt themselves. A second offence where children are not restrained will see the driver charged with careless use of a motor vehicle.
The police said the constant stream of seatbelt-related road deaths is behind the new zero tolerance seatbelt policy (crash investigations showed that of the 30 deaths to 3 May 2001 of people not wearing seat belts, 13 would have survived had they been belted up).
Surveys have revealed that 10% of adults do not wear a seatbelt in the front seat and a quarter of all back seat passengers were failing to buckle up. Also, 11% of children were not being put in seat belts, while just over one in five were not properly restrained. Education and publicity campaigns had been tried but the message still hadn't been driven home enough.
Thanks to 'NewsRoom'
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person
