The misery belting up can avoid (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

The misery belting up can avoid

7:51am Monday 6th July 2009

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Cars can feel very safe and comforting environments to be in - a little bit of our own space where we can shut out the rest of the world.

And it is certainly true that vehicle safety has improved massively over the years.

But it is important that drivers and passengers do not get lulled into a false sense of security.

There are still very real dangers associated with road travel, and it is vital that people are aware of this fact and take appropriate action.

One of the main things that drivers and passengers can do is ensure that everyone is wearing their seatbelt.

However, while most buckle up in the front, the same is not always true in the back.

Now pupils are being enlisted in a bid to make sure everyone belts up, as it were.

The impact children's so-called pester-power can have on adults is renowned, so enlisting their help is a great idea.

And demonstrations by firefighters letting youngsters experience what it is like to be cut from a wrecked car will give them a powerful message to pass on to their elders.

But perhaps the most convincing argument of all still remains Bradford's road casualty figures: 1,041 drivers and 639 passengers killed or injured last year.

If that doesn't make people concerned enough to take precautions, it is hard to know what would.

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