ONE hundred and nine people in Bury have been reported by police for not wearing seat belts - in just one week.

The figures for drivers and passengers, revealed at the end of a seat belt campaign throughout Greater Manchester, were described as "disappointing" by police chiefs.

Although Bury runs a year-round campaign, in the past few weeks police patrols across the county have been emphasising the importance of buckling up for car travellers.

Since the drive was launched in Greater Manchester on April 14, nearly 2,000 people have been prosecuted, with a further 1,300 advised.

Insp Brian Ritson, Greater Manchester Police road safety officer, said: "Rear seat passengers all too frequently fail to use their seat belts.

"Parents allow children to move freely around in the back, sometimes standing or kneeling to look out the window. It is wholly irresponsible behaviour on the part of the driver."

Both drivers and passengers can suffer serious or fatal injuries by not wearing seat belts, and although drivers are keen to look after themselves, the same cannot be said for their passengers.

Insp John Higson, head of Bury Divisional Traffic Unit, said: "If a car travelling at 30mph is involved in a collision, and the front passengers are wearing seat belts but the rear passengers aren't, the rear passengers are likely to break the necks of the passengers in the front, before crashing through the windscreen."

He added: "It seems strange that a person who would willingly put a seat belt on in the front of the car should ignore it when sat in the back."

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