DRIVERS and passengers are being reminded to wear seatbelts following a successful week-long road safety campaign.

Research by Somerset Road Safety, working in conjunction with Avon and Somerset Police, found one in four drivers in the county was not wearing a seatbelt.

A total of 90 people were caught not wearing a seat belt in March, 75 were referred to a road safety workshop and 15 people received fixed penalty tickets.

Somerset County Council’s road safety manager, Terry Beale, said: “We will be carrying out a similar exercise to this again shortly to continue to put across the message that wearing seatbelts save lives.”

Not wearing a seatbelt is one of the 'fatal four' driving offences. The others are speeding, drink and drug driving, and using a mobile phone while driving.

Chief Insp John Holt, of Avon and Somerset's Operations and Roads Policing Unit, said: “The seatbelt campaign is part of our on-going commitment to reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

"Most people wouldn't dream of driving even a short distance without belting up, but those who do break the law should know that we will take action against them to help make the roads safer for everyone.”

Experts estimate that the increased wearing of seatbelts due to national legislation and police enforcement has reduced fatalities by more than 20 per cent. Research has also shown that a child under four is ten times more likely to be killed if unrestrained.