RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
April 17, 2003
“BELT UP FOR EASTER” – COACH TRAVELLERS URGED
Easter coach travellers are being urged to put on their seatbelts to keep safe and to prepare for new European laws.
Legislation is being introduced in Europe to make it compulsory to wear seatbelts on coaches, but at present most passengers don’t buckle up.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “Coach travel is one of the safest forms of transport, but it is still advisable to wear your seatbelt at all times.
“In the event of a crash, a belt will stop you from being thrown around and give you a much better chance of surviving.
“Sadly, far too many people still don’t wear their belts on coaches, possibly because they feel protected from danger in such a large vehicle or because they have never been advised to put them on.
“But with European legislation expected to come into force in the next three years everyone will have to get used to wearing them.
“Thousands of people are likely to be travelling in coaches this Easter, both at home and abroad, and this would be the ideal time to get into the habit of wearing them.”
RoSPA is also reminding drivers going on holiday at Easter to ensure they do not get behind the wheel when they are tired. The crash at Selby where 10 people were killed because a driver had too little sleep, and an inquest last week into the deaths of six people on a coach because the driver was tired, show how serious the problem is.
RoSPA’s advice is: avoid driving in the early hours of the morning or when you have had less sleep than normal; don’t stay up late before a long journey; consider breaking your journey with an overnight stop; write out a route plan, including places where to stop for regular rest breaks (every two hours, or sooner if feeling tired, for at least 15 to 20 minutes).
Sleep is the only cure for tiredness, but if you start to feel sleepy while driving: find somewhere safe to stop (not the hard shoulder); drink one or two cups of strong coffee or other high caffeine drinks; take a nap of about 15 minutes.
RoSPA has a free Safer Journey Planner available from its road safety department or on its website.
