DRIVERS who fail to belt up face £20 fixed penalty fines next week as police step up their seat belt campaign in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Pennine Division police launched their belt awareness campaign today with a week of education when officers will hand out leaflets explaining the law on wearing seat belts for all car occupants.

This will be followed by a week of enforcement when fixed penalty tickets will be given to all offenders stopped by police officers.

Lancashire police say many are users are seriously injured, some fatally, because they have not been wearing a seat belt.

Said a spokesman: "Road safety officers see these effects all too often when they attend road crashes.

"Many of the injuries could be avoided altogether and many more reduced in severity if seat belts were worn."

He added: "Remember, if you are involved in an accident and it is found you were not wearing a seat belt, any compensation you may be awarded as a result of sustaining an injury could be considerably reduced."

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