Wednesday, 23 July 2014 - 4:12pm |
Counties Manukau

Children under five found without seatbelts

1 min read

Counties Manukau Police found parents are continuing to take unnecessary risks with their children’s safety during Operation Restraint today. 

In conjunction with Plunket, Auckland Transport, Maori and Pacific Wardens and the Police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit, Counties Manukau Police stopped 141 cars and issued 133 offence notices over four hours at a checkpoint on Great South Road, Manukau. 

“Unfortunately during this short time we found 22 children under the age of five years old who were unrestrained or incorrectly restrained,” says Inspector Neil Fisher, Counties Manukau Police Prevention Manager.  “We are shocked to find that parents are willings to make this sort of risk with their child’s life.  Additionally 18 children between the ages of eight and 15 were unrestrained, and three adults.”

Also during the operation 39 licence offences were detected, 36 other offences, one vehicle impounded and two arrests made.

“With over 5,000 cars through the checkpoints it was a successful day in terms of the number of people we were able to speak to.  However it is disappointing to see that some people still don’t get the message,” says Inspector Fisher.  “The results we’ve found make it clear that people are still gambling with their lives, and the lives of their children, on the road.  We can’t emphasise enough that simply wearing your seatbelt can be the one thing that prevents a tragedy or saves your life.”

ENDS

Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
021 192 0717