By Seán McCárthaigh
A LEADING insurance firm has called for greater garda enforcement of seatbelt legislation after it was revealed almost one in two motorists don't belt up. Statistics compiled by the National Safety Council show only 57% of drivers wear seatbelts. Although compulsory under law, the same survey also found just one in five rear seat passengers wear safety belts.

The figure compares car users in this country unfavourably with motorists in Northern Ireland where 85% of all car occupants wear a seatbelt.

Safety experts estimate annual road death figures in the Republic - which totalled 415 last year - could be reduced by over 40% if there was full compliance with seatbelt regulations.

AXA Insurance chief executive John O'Neill, who are sponsors of a new cross-border TV campaign to encourage more car users to wear seatbelts, said enforcement was the key.

"We can make these ads until the cows come home but without enforcement, we are wasting our time," said Mr O'Neill.

Speaking at the launch of the new TV commercial in Dublin yesterday, he called for greater resources to be given to the Garda and RUC to fully implement road safety legislation.

"If people feel there is a reasonable chance they will be caught and punished, they will think twice," Mr O'Neill said.

The shock TV ad is not being screened until after the 9pm watershed because of its graphic content. It highlights how a person who is not wearing a seatbelt can seriously kill or injure other car occupants in an accident.

Surveys have established three quarters of people who don't wear safety belts will be killed or seriously injured in a 30mph head-on collision.

National Safety Council chairman Eddie Shaw, said the refusal to wear safety belts meant 1,000 people aged 17-24 would die and 4,000 more would be seriously injured on Irish roads over the next eight years.

"If young drivers wish to complain and campaign for lower insurance premiums, they need as a group to slow down, do not drink and drive and belt up," Mr Shaw said.

He also claimed scarce hospital and medical resources were being diverted to treat avoidable injuries because of the low usage of seatbelts.

Junior Environment minister, Bobby Molloy also expressed concern at the low level of seatbelt use. "We have a long way to go to achieve the Government's target of 85% for front and rear seat passengers," he admitted.

He did express confidence, however, the new TV ad and penalty points system would reach targets.

A total of 85,000 £20 fines were issued over the non-wearing of seat belts over an 18-month period up to December 2000. Chief Supt, Dennis Fitzpatrick of the Garda National Traffic Bureau said the rate of detection for non-wearing of seatbelts had increased by over 100% since 1999.