A SUFFOLK-WIDE police crackdown is set to target motorists and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts.The enforcement campaign will run all next week (Monday, February 16 to Sunday, February 22) as part of a European seatbelt operation.

A SUFFOLK-WIDE police crackdown is set to target motorists and passengers who fail to wear seatbelts.

The enforcement campaign will run all next week (Monday, February 16 to Sunday, February 22) as part of a European seatbelt operation.

Officers across Suffolk will be carrying out high visibility patrols and clamping down on anyone not wearing a seatbelt or not using the appropriate child restraints - meaning that the chances of being caught when driving without a seatbelt will be greatly increased.

An enforcement campaign, which ran between September 1 and December 31 last year, proved that there are a substantial number of people in Suffolk who continue to flout the law.

Figures from the campaign revealed that 1711 motorists were caught on the county's roads without wearing a seatbelt.

Chief Inspector Mike Bacon from the Roads Policing Unit said: 'I do find it difficult to understand why people don't wear their seatbelt.

'It's a simple and quick task and yet people continue to risk their lives and the lives of others by not wearing them. Far too many people took that risk last year, as our last enforcement campaign showed.

'Throughout 2009 we will continue to crackdown on those who fail to put on their seatbelt, and I would appeal to all motorists and passengers… please belt up - it could save your life,' Ch. Insp. Bacon said.

Failing to wear a seatbelt remains one of the main causation factors of fatal and serious injury collisions. Someone in a crash at just 30mph will be thrown forward with a force of between 30 and 60 times their body weight. Seatbelts reduce this force and consequently the risk of serious injury or death.

Any motorists caught without a seatbelt will be given an instant fixed penalty notice of �30 and could face a fine of up to �500.