One in five people who died in a crash on WA roads over the past five years were not wearing a seatbelt.
Friends, family and loved ones whose deaths may have been easily prevented with a simple CLICK.
In response to this shocking statistic, the Road Safety Commission has partnered with the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and St John WA in a new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of wearing seatbelts.
The campaign running across TV, catch up/connected TV, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, gives a candid insight into the true impact of not wearing a seatbelt in the event of a crash, from the point-of-view of first responders.
Carla, a DFES first responder, is featured saying 'I see things no one should have to see.'
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner commended Carla and the other first responders for sharing their real and raw experiences attending to serious and fatal crashes on WA roads.
'I hope their experiences from the front line will make something click with Western Australians,' he said. 'Given all the new safety technology now available in modern cars, it’s astonishing that people are choosing not to use something as basic but potentially lifesaving as a seatbelt.'
'It continues to shock me that people are still not putting on their seatbelt, it should be automatic,' said Minister for Road Safety, David Michael. 'It is particularly concerning that 18 of the 24 people who died not wearing a seatbelt last year were in the regions.'
The campaign comes as the Road Safety Commission prepares to introduce safety cameras with the capability to detect and fine drivers and front seat passengers not wearing a seatbelt. A six-month trial of the cameras in 2022/23 on WA roads detected 11,400 cases of failure to do so.
'I look forward to the implementation of the new safety cameras because we know that deterrence works. If people think they might be caught doing the wrong thing they change their behaviour and that will save lives', said Minister Michael.
Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory in WA, so not only are you risking your life not wearing one, but when caught penalties starting from $550 and four demerits apply.
While most of us do the safe thing and wear a seatbelt all the time, we need to speak up if we see others making the dangerous choice not to.
Even over short distances, not wearing a seatbelt can have devastating consequences.
Consider your family and the first responders. No one should have to see your life lost or be left wondering - 'What if?'
What if you’d been wearing a seatbelt?
Seatbelts save lives. It’s simple, just CLICK.
Visit our Seatbelts Save Lives page to find out more about the new campaign. For more information on seatbelts or child car restraints, visit our Seatbelts or Child Safety pages.
