More than one third of primary school children do not wear seatbelts while travelling in the back seat of cars, according to a survey published today.
The survey carried out by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) last year found that 36 per cent of primary school children were unrestrained in the back, representing only a small improvement on 40 per cent in 2005. Wearing rates for boys (64 per cent) were marginally lower than for girls (65 per cent).
The study also found that there had been a large improvement in the wearing rates for secondary school goers in rear seats, from 55 per cent in 2005 to 76 per cent in 2006. Female secondary school goers are marginally more likely to belt up in rear seats, with 77 per cent of females and 74 per cent of males wearing seat belts in the back.
The wearing rate for adults in the rear seats of cars increased from 46 per cent in 2005 to 63 per cent in 2006. Despite the improvement, almost two out of five adults still don't wear a seatbelt in the back seat of cars. Women were more likely than men to belt up in the rear, with wearing rates of 69 per cent and 54 per cent respectively.
An overall seatbelt wearing rate amongst drivers of 86 per cent is unchanged from the 2005 survey. The rate was 85 per cent in 2003 but only and 71 per cent in 2002.
The overall front seat wearing rate, including both drivers and passengers, for females remained the same at 92 per cent, while the rate for males decreased by one percentage point to 82 per cent in 2006.
RSA chief Noel Brett said: "Evidence tells us that people don't wear their belts because they want personal freedom. They want to make the choices. But those choices are killing them. And they're killing other people too.
"But at least they get to make their own decisions. What about the ones who don't get to make their own decisions? Children. Every day in this country, almost two out of every five parents put their children at risk by not strapping them into the back seat of the car. Parents are prepared to gamble a lifetime of grief for a hassle-free journey."
"Fastening your seatbelt, and making sure others in your vehicle do the same, or in the case of children ensuring they are safely restrained, should be the first thing you do when you get into a car."
Chief Superintendent John Farelly of the Garda National Traffic Bureau said in 2006 the Garda moved from the position where issuing a caution was an optional response to people not wearing seatbelts to a situation where issuing a fixed penalty notice became the norm.
"We make no apology for taking a robust approach. It continues to amaze and sadden gardai that some people still fail to wear their seatbelts. It is even more serious - and potentially more tragic - when it is an adult who is driving around with a child unrestrained."
