More than 300 caught in seat belt crackdown

All were caught in a week-long Europe-wide campaign run last week.

And 11 of the 312 stopped were children, Hampshire police said. The vast majority, at 84 per cent, we male, and 67 per cent were car drivers.

Officers also checked car seats and found 34 out of 61 checked were fitted incorrectly.

Hampshire’s Road Safety Officer, Sergeant Rob Heard said: ‘Over the last week we have been targeting those people who still fail to wear a seat belt.

‘We have been using a number of methods to do this, from unmarked car and bikes to road side checks with a spotter.

‘Figures from previous campaigns show that numbers are reducing which is positive to see and I am hoping the message is getting out there.

‘In September 2015 we caught 376 and in March 2015, 392 were caught without a seat belt on.

‘Failing to wear a seat belt is one of the fatal four offences which has been shown to be the main causes for death and serious injuries on our roads.

‘By targeting these offences we know it will save lives and prevent injury.’