On March 27, a Single Road Safety Day will be held in the Vitebsk region under the motto "Buckle up for safety!"

To prevent road accidents, avoid violations of passenger transportation rules, including those involving minors, and promote the use of seat belts and child restraint systems, this Friday the State Automobile Inspectorate will hold a Single Road Safety Day under the motto: "Buckle up for safety!"

According to research, people ejected from a car are tens of times more likely to die than those who remain inside. Road accident statistics show that 80% of drivers and passengers who used seat belts and were involved in an accident did not sustain any injuries.

Many vehicle drivers complain that buckling up makes them feel uncomfortable behind the wheel and interferes with their driving. However, there are also those who, on the contrary, feel discomfort and insecurity when not buckled up. People who care about their safety begin to strictly follow the requirements of traffic rules. And when this becomes the norm, their actions become automatic.

Sometimes an unbuckled driver, even in a minor accident where the car has no serious damage, sustains life-threatening injuries or becomes disabled.

Recall that, according to paragraph 178 of the Traffic Rules, "The transportation of children in a passenger car equipped with seat belts must be carried out using:

child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight and height – for children under five years of age;

child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight and height, other devices (boosters, special seat cushions, additional seats) that allow the child to be safely secured with seat belts provided by the vehicle's design – for children aged five to twelve years.

It is permitted to transport children under twelve years of age without using the devices specified in the first part of this paragraph if the child's height exceeds 150 centimeters, as well as in a taxi car.

It is prohibited to transport children in the front seat of a passenger car using child restraint systems appropriate for the child's weight and height, the backrest of which is turned towards the windshield of the vehicle, if the front seat has an airbag, except when the frontal airbag mechanism is deactivated."

The use of not only so-called "child seats" but also other devices that allow a child to be safely secured with standard seat belts is permitted.

As part of the Single Road Safety Day, traffic police officers will primarily focus on violations of rules by drivers and passengers regarding the use of seat belts.

We remind you that for this violation, according to Part 4 of Article 18.12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, a driver may be fined up to 1 basic unit or issued a warning.

For violating the rules for transporting children, in accordance with Part 5 of Article 18.14 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, an administrative penalty in the form of a warning or a fine of up to 4 basic units is imposed on the driver.

Dear drivers! Take care of your passengers in advance. Transport children only in special restraint systems, and make sure that all passengers are buckled up. Do not forget to buckle up yourselves. Remember, this will help save your life and health, and that of others!

Alexander Orekhov, Head of the State Automobile Inspectorate of Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs