DELIVERY drivers are being publicly reminded that they’re not no exempt from road rules after police have seen many drivers failing to follow simple seatbelt laws in the ACT.

There’s been more delivery drivers about because of the pandemic but many are failing to follow simple seatbelt laws, says Detective Superintendent Hall O’Meagher, who’s leading Canberra’s COVID-19 taskforce.

“Some delivery drivers are either not wearing their seatbelt at all, or are sitting on top of the seatbelt and pulling the sash component over their heads to avoid the seatbelt alarm,” says Detective Superintendent O’Meagher.

“Wearing a seatbelt in this manner could be disastrous in the case of even low level collisions with the lower part of the body moving unrestrained and the upper part held largely by the neck.

“The reality is it saves very little time compared to wearing the belt correctly, and actually increases the likelihood of injury in a crash.

“I appreciate delivery drivers face time pressures and the inconvenience of regularly jumping in and out of their vehicle however there is simply no excuse for breaking the law and putting yourself at risk.”

Delivery drivers are only permitted to travel without a seatbelt if they are moving at 25km/h or less, warns O’Meagher who says the penalty for driving without a correctly fastened seatbelt is $502 and three demerit points.