IT takes just a second to put on but still more than 300 people across Hampshire were caught not wearing a seatbelt, which carries a fine of up to £500.

They were pulled up as part of the first European-wide seatbelt enforcement campaign, which took place from March 14-20, with police officers across the Continent conducting co-ordinated checks designed to reinforce the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

During that week officers stopped 312 people who were not wearing their seatbelts – 96 per cent of these were drivers and front-seat passengers, and 11 of these were children.

While that shows a drop in the number of people failing to put their seatbelts on – 376 were caught in September – it still shows the message isn’t getting through to everyone. Of those stopped, 84 per cent were male, two thirds were car drivers, and a quarter were van drivers.

Child seats were also checked as part of the initiative and of the 61 checked, 34 (56 per cent) were incorrectly fitted.

Hampshire Police’s Sergeant Rob Heard, said: “We targeted those people who still fail to wear a seatbelt, using a number of methods – from unmarked cars and bikes to roadside checks with a spotter.

“Figures from previous campaigns show numbers are reducing, which is positive to see, and I’m hoping the message is getting out there. In September 2015, we caught 376. In March 2015, 392 were caught without a seatbelt.”

He added: “Failing to wear a seatbelt is one of the fatal four offences which has been shown to be the main causes for death and serious injuries on our roads.

“You are twice as likely to die in a collision if you are not wearing a seatbelt. Not wearing a seatbelt can be a fatal decision even on short, familiar journeys and at low speeds.”

According to Sgt Heard, 96 per cent of those caught were front-seat drivers or passengers. He added: “Research has shown in a collision if you are unrestrained you will hit the windscreen at a force of 30 to 60 times your own body weight.

“Please always wear your seatbelt, it’s not worth the risk,” he urged.

There were five fatalities involving people who were not wearing their seatbelt in 2015, and 17 in Hampshire since 2012.