Headrests in Luton taxis remind passenges to "Belt Up for Life" - 18th December 2009
Luton Borough Council’s Road Safety Team are working with local taxi companies to encourage more taxi passengers to use seatbelts, and from next week, taxi drivers throughout Luton are being given headrest covers displaying the message ‘Belt Up For Life’. This is the latest initiative in the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership’s ongoing campaign to increase the use of seatbelts and reduce the severity of injuries sustained by people involved in road traffic collisions.
Cllr Worlding, Executive Member with responsibility for transport for Luton Borough Council, said: explains: “Most people tend to wear belts in their own cars but when it comes to travelling in a taxi many do not use this simple yet life-saving piece of equipment. If the taxi has to stop quickly or is involved in a collision, unrestrained passengers will be thrown forwards at the speed the taxi was travelling, with a force of between 30 and 60 times their body weight. Even at low speeds, the force of impact can be fatal.
“We hope these headrests will serve as a timely reminder to taxi passengers to belt up safely and that they have safe journeys.”
