By Stefan Morkis

OVER 1000 motorists have been caught by police in Tayside failing to wear a seatbelt in the past three months—and delivery drivers have been warned they will have to start buckling up too.

Tayside Police yesterday issued a reminder to delivery drivers that a new law comes into effect on Tuesday that will close a loophole allowing delivery drivers not to wear a seatbelt while working.

At present, the drivers of vehicles engaged in making local deliveries, or collections of goods or mail are exempt from the current legislation, which requires a person driving or riding in a vehicle to wear a seatbelt.

This has meant that many deliveries have operated under the impression that they could travel large distances without wearing a seatbelt but the new law will set in stone just how far they can travel before they have to put on their seatbelts.

The new legislation will make it illegal for drivers to travel more than 50m (54.5 yards) without buckling up.

Police stressed that this exemption was only available to genuine delivery drivers and not ordinary motorists who fail to put on their seatbelts when moving off in their car.

Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman, head of Tayside Police’s road policing unit, said, “Many delivery or collection drivers and passengers have until now believed they were exempt from the seatbelt law.

“This new legislation now makes it absolutely clear what is required of them by law, as it clearly defines the distance a delivery driver may travel without putting on their seatbelt.

“Collisions can and do occur on short distance journeys and we have seen incidents in Tayside where delivery drivers and their passengers were injured.

“Anyone travelling in a vehicle could be injured in a collision, irrespective of the distance.

“Injuries can be and often are worse if a person has failed to wear their seatbelt.

“With this mind, we welcome the fact that the law has now defined the distance delivery persons can travel.”

He added that anyone caught not wearing their seatbelt by police could find themselves with a fine.

“The failure of some motorists to wear a seatbelt remains a significant concern for us,” he said.

“In the last three months Tayside Police has detected 1300 motorists who have failed to comply with seatbelt legislation. All of these people have been issued with a fixed penalty notice or reported through the court system.

“All individual drivers and passengers over the age of 14 are responsible for themselves when in a vehicle but we would also remind employers that they have a duty of care to ensure that every new employee using a vehicle for deliveries of collection is aware of this new legislation.

“We urge drivers to heed the advice and wear their seatbelts.

By doing so they will not run the risk of receiving a £30 fixed penalty, or more seriously being injured as a result of not taking a few extra minutes to buckle up.”