Fairfield drivers slammed for letting children ride without seatbelts
FAIRFIELD ADVANCE: New figures show drivers in Fairfield are the worst in the state for letting children ride in cars without seatbelts.
Southwest
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FAIRFIELD residents are the worst in the state for letting their children ride in the back of cars without seatbelts on.
A whopping 358 tickets were issued to residents in the last financial year, the NSW Office of State Revenue figures show. This compares with 179 issued in the Liverpool area, 126 at Parramatta and 300 at Macquarie Fields.
DRIVER AFTER DRIVER CAUGHT BREAKING LAW DURING SCHOOL PICK-UPS AT FAIRFIELD
In 12 cases at Fairfield, drivers had not properly used restraints to secure babies aged under six months.
Drivers in Fairfield paid out more than $106,000 in penalties.
Police are concerned at the increase in parents letting children under 16 ride without seatbelts securely clicked in.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander John Hartley said the unsafe behaviour had been targeted in various police campaigns, including Operation Saturation. “This behaviour risks our greatest asset – our children,” he said.
Across the state, the figures have leapt alarmingly in recent years.
In the 12 months to July 2012, 3518 motorists were booked for having passengers under 16 not wearing seatbelts. The figure for this year has risen to 5160.
A police spokesman said small children were more susceptible to serious injury in the event of a crash.
CABRAMATTA DISQUALIFIED DRIVERS REPEATEDLY RETURN TO THE WHEEL
“You hold your child’s hand when you cross the street, why wouldn’t you restrain them in an approved seat when you’re driving them?” he said.
WHO: Babies under six months must sit in rear facing capsules
WHERE: Children under age four are not allowed to travel in the front seat.
HOW: Children aged four to seven years must be secured in a booster seat, or a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
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