WHY would you want to double the chances of dying in a car crash?

That's the question from Hampshire Constabulary in the national seatbelt enforcement week.

Roads policing officers will carry out dedicated operations this week, targetting those who refuse to wear a seatbelt despite the dangers.

Since 2010, 16 people have been killed in Hampshire because they were not wearing a seatbelt when in a collision.

Sgt Rob Heard, road safety sergeant for Hampshire and Thames Valley, said: "The vast majority of people are wearing their seatbelts, but unfortunately we are still finding people who decide to take the risk and travel in a vehicle without wearing one. Some people are becoming complacent and feel a collision will never happen to them.

"People sometimes feel, 'I am only driving locally and at low speed so I will be okay'. But research shows many collisions occur at low speed and within a few miles of home."

Officers will also be checking child seats to make sure they are fitted correctly, as research shows two in three car seats are fitted incorrectly.

Sgt Heard added: "This may be contributing to the continuing rise in child road death and injury. If in doubt, get your child seats check by an approved fitter."

Watch Hampshire Constabulary's film on the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt: