Death toll on Balearic roads continues to rise

FIVE people died on Balearic roads between Thursday night and Sunday afternoon, bringing the death toll up to 49.
The latest victim was a 70-year-old woman, Francisca Mora, who was in the passenger seat of a car when the vehicle left the road and crashed into a concrete bridge near Campos. The driver, Antonio Mestre, 79, her husband, was seriously injured.
News of the accident coincided with a report from the police saying that 1'779 drivers were fined for not wearing seat belts during the “belt up” campaign which ran from June 13 to 26. More than 4'400 vehicles were checked in Palma and 1'574 drivers fined for not wearing a seat belt.
On roads outside built up areas, 6'760 cars were checked, but only 205 drivers were fined.
The figures show that most drivers wear seat belts when driving outside towns and villages, but seldom wear them in built up areas.
A spokesman for the traffic police said that use of the seat belt reduces the risk of death by half.
He added that it is also one of the most effective systems for reducing injuries in accidents.