Buckle up, urges lawyer

As the inquest of a tragic accident was heard this month, lawyer Hilary Meredith urges drivers to ensure they buckle up when driving. Last week an inquest heard how 22 year old Robert Hyde, known to everyone as Bob, was not wearing a seat belt when the 2006 black Vauxhall Astra he was driving span out of control slamming into a railway bridge in Hutton, Brentwood, in February this year.

Senior Partner at Hilary Meredith Solicitors Hilary Meredith said:

“This is a real tragic accident and my heart goes out to Robert’s family. Seatbelts, lap belts and child car seats are the simplest yet most effective way of staying safe when travelling on the roads. If you are unrestrained and involved in a road collision at a speed of 30mph, you will be thrown with a force of between 30 to 60 times your own body weight.

“Wearing a seatbelt as a driver or front seat passenger saves over 2,200 lives every year. Around 40 front seat passengers are killed each year by the impact of a rear seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt. I urge people to take a quick 2 minutes before driving to ensure they are wearing a secure seatbelt, and all passengers are buckled in safely. Those precious minutes could save your life.”

It is compulsory to wear a seatbelt when travelling in a motor vehicle and failure to do so may result in a criminal prosecution such as a fine.