PARENTS were slammed today for putting their children's lives at risk by failing to make them put on a seatbelt in cars.
Half all child passengers don't belt up, a shock survey by Kirklees Council has found.
That figure rises even higher outside some schools - with fewer than one in 10 wearing a seatbelt.
There can be no excuse, highways officials and police said.
Clr Ann Denham, the council's cabinet member for highways, said: "Parents must take heed of the need for safe car seats and safety belts for their children, however short the trip is.
"It is a proven fact that most accidents occur on short journeys - so the length of the trip is no excuse."
Tests have shown that an unrestrained passenger involved in an accident at 30mph will be thrown forwards with a force of up to 60 times their own bodyweight.
Up to 15 front seat passengers are killed by the impact from an unbelted rear seat passenger each year across the UK.
A drive to make parents think about their children's safety as car passengers is being launched in Kirklees following release of the figures.
It will also focus on making sure child seats are correctly fitted.
Sgt Alan Kaye, of the road policing team, said: "The research clearly highlights a problem, particularly on school journeys, and this is putting our children at significant risk of harm.
"We will be attempting to ensure that those responsible for conveying children in vehicles are aware of the importance of using appropriate child restraints."
A series of talks will be held at schools to tell children about the dangers of being unrestrained in cars.
Highways officers will offer free child seat safety checks at four supermarkets next week.
The dates are:
Thursday June 2 - Asda, Bradford Road, Huddersfield, 10am to noon, and Morrisons, Waterloo, 2 to 4pm.
Friday, June 3 - Morrisons, Union Street, Heckmondwike, 10am to noon, and Tesco, Bradford Road, Batley, 2 to 4pm.
