Seat belt offences in south west Scotland show 64% rise

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has reported a 64% rise in seat belt offences over the first five months of this year.

Road safety officers described the statistics as "bitterly disappointing".

The figure from January to May this year was 602 offences, compared with 367 for the same period in 2009.

Police said it was particularly disappointing as this had been designated the "year of the seatbelt".

Road safety officer Keith Gunn said work was being done at schools to try to raise awareness of the issue.

However, it appeared that while young people had got the message it had not been taken on board by adults.

"It appears that the vast majority of those still being caught are drivers of vehicles and that children are belting up on journeys," he said.