Be sure to belt up!

Seatbelts need to be worn at all times regardless of whether the individual is a front or back seat passenger, a driver, a passenger in a coach, minibus, private hire vehicle or hackney carriage, or in a goods vehicle, van or lorry.

In any of these situations individuals are legally required to wear a seatbelt.

The consequences of not wearing a one can range from a £60 fixed penalty fine, which can rise to £500 if convicted by a court, and serious or potentially fatal injuries.

During a 30mph collision a passenger can be thrown forward with a force of three-and-a-half tonnes, equivalent to an elephant charging directly at them.

As part of the campaign, being running across Central Bedfordshire and Luton, people can to test their knowledge of seatbelt usage by completing a short quiz at www.drivesafely.org/beltupforlife.

Participants who answer all questions correctly will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a tour of Millbrook proving ground and a high-speed passenger ride with a professional rally driver.

Chief Inspector Richard Hann, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “Seatbelts are invaluable at saving lives.

“If seatbelts were worn during every journey everyone makes, as a driver or a passenger, every day nationally one life could be saved.

“The belt up for life campaign is encouraging everyone to use their seatbelt to protect themselves from being fined or injured.”