Tipperary people urged to 'belt up' in cars in wake of 30% rise in failing to wear seat belt offences

A Garda chief has appealed to Tipperary motorists and their passengers to belt up in the wake of a worrying 30% rise in the number of people caught not wearing seat belts while travelling in vehicles in the county.

Latest statistics for traffic offences detected in the county show that the number of people caught travelling without wearing a seat belt in the three months from last December to the end of February was 30% higher compared to the same three month period in 2021/2022.

Chief Supt. Colm O’Sullivan drew attention to the 30% increase in detections for this traffic offence at the latest meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee and said it concerned him.

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He said they knew from statistics the consequences of not wearing a seat belt if you are involved in a traffic collision, even a minor one.

He pointed out that you wouldn’t just leave a Waterford Crystal vase on the back seat of a car unprotected and the same should apply to our lives and those of our families.

“Our lives are our most priceless possessions as are the lives of our children and families. Yet we allow them go in a car not wearing a seat belt.”

“I ask all drivers to make sure everyone is belted up before they take off,” he added.

In contrast, the dramatic drop in motorists caught driving while holding a mobile phone in the first 10 months of last year continued in the three month period of December, January and February.

Chief Supt. O'Sullivan reported that the number of detections for this offence dropped by 34% to 601 in that three months.

In contrast, here were 906 people caught driving while holding a mobile phone in the period December 2021 to end of February 2022.