MOTORISTS in Bury are being urged to belt up and listen to some timely life-saving advice.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the compulsory wearing of seat belts for front seat passengers, which became law on January 31, 1973, police throughout Greater Manchester have launched a new seat belt awareness campaign to highlight the dangers to drivers and passengers if they don't "belt up".

Over the next few weeks police officers will be on the lookout for vehicles where the occupants are not wearing their seat belts, in order to reduce the risk of injury or fatalities on the roads around Greater Manchester.

Inspector Brian Wood, Road Safety Officer for GMP said: "Everyone knows they should wear a seat belt in the front seat, but many people don't realise how dangerous it is not to wear a seat belt in the back.

"In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight. Such an impact could result in death or serious injury to both yourself and front seat passengers."

The law governing seat belt use is as follows:

You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted. There are few exceptions to this and the driver is liable to prosecution if a child under 14 years does not wear a seat belt.

You must not carry an unrestrained child in the front of any vehicle.

Children under three years travelling in the front of any vehicle must be carried in an appropriate child restraint. The adult belt may not be used.

If an appropriate child restraint is fitted in the front, but not in the rear, children under three must use that restraint.

If an appropriate child restraint or seat belt is available in the front, but not in the rear, children between three and eleven and under 1.5m in height must use the front seat restraint or seat belt.

There are only two exemptions from seat belt regulations: if a vehicle user has a medical condition and a doctor's certificate to confirm the reason or if the motorist is reversing.

Inspector Wood, added: "Think! Wear your seat belt and ensure that all your car occupants are properly belted."