A Bradford consultant is urging people across the city to wear their seatbelts after a family who were not wearing theirs were brought into accident and emergency following a car accident.

Tony Shenton said he was surprised that the group had escaped with nothing more than cuts and bruises.

“These adults and children were very, very fortunate as it could have been a lot worse,” he said.

“I know I won’t be in an exclusive club when I say that driving through the city, time and again, I see young children not strapped into their safety seats, despite there being widespread public health messages telling parents that this is the law and the safest means of travel for their young ones.

“I feel it is time to send out a message to our community again that wearing a seatbelt is one of the most effective and proven means of reducing the likelihood of death and serious injury in a crash.”

Seatbelts are designed to retain people in their seats and so prevent or reduce injuries in a crash. Since the law to wear seatbelts was introduced in 1983, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has found front seatbelts alone are estimated to have saved more than 50,000 lives across Great Britain.

Mr Shenton urged people across the district to consult with Bradford Council’s road safety team if they wanted to check if their child seats were fitted correctly.

He said: “Car seats for children are widely available and buying one now could save your child’s life if you are involved in a collision.

“I would encourage everyone to use their seatbelt, after all it is the law, and it is there to protect you from serious damage if you have an accident.

"Over my lengthy career here at the Bradford Royal Infirmary I have seen horrific injuries from car accidents involving children and adults who weren’t wearing restraints. I don’t want to see any more.”

Sue Snoddy, the Council’s casualty reduction and road safety partnership manager, said: “Too many people think that because they are only making a short journey on local roads they don’t need to bother wearing their seatbelt, but the reality is that it is the law and they should be worn on every trip. After all, a seat belt could end up saving your life.”