Just short of 1,500 people across Wales were caught not wearing their seatbelt during a two-week enforcement campaign.
The campaign, which involved all four Welsh police forces and ran 7-21 March, saw 1,497 people stopped for the offence, a rise of 19% from the 2015 campaign.
Dyfed Powys Police stopped the most offenders (958), followed by South Wales Police (347), North Wales Police (146) and Gwent Police (46).
Sergeant Alun Davies from North Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: “Wearing a seatbelt when driving or as a passenger can save lives, but it is disappointing that 1,497 people still chose not to buckle up and put themselves and others at risk.
“Not wearing a seatbelt is considered one of the ‘Fatal 5’ – we have a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are failing to wear a seat belt, drink and drug driving, dangerous and careless driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding and using a mobile phone while driving.
“The risk of being seriously injured or killed rises dramatically if a decision is taken to commit a ‘Fatal 5’ offence and I want people to be aware of the devastating effect it can have and make a conscious decision not to take any chances.
“Our aim is to save lives and prevent families from having to deal with the aftermath of a collision in which someone is not wearing a seatbelt.”
Susan Storch, chair of Road Safety Wales, said: "Putting on your seatbelt is such a simple act to carry out before your journey, especially when you’re twice as likely to die in a crash if you don’t.
“Road Safety Wales will continue to work with partners to educate the public that failing to wear a seatbelt can be a fatal decision even on short, familiar trips and those at low speeds."
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