Opinion: 'Make it click' a no-brainer

Do you remember those Ronald McDonald advertisements that used to be on TV with the whole McDonald's clan preaching "make it click?"

I grew up watching those ads. I also grew up in a time when wearing your seatbelt was a no-brainer.

It was easy. Hop in the car, put your seatbelt on and go.

But apparently not everyone got the memo.

In a statement yesterday, police said the number of people killed in car crashes who were not wearing seatbelts has doubled in the past two years.

Doubled.

I find that outrageous! It literally takes five seconds, it's hard to believe it's not part of everybody's daily driving routine.

I cannot stress enough how ridiculous I find it in this day and age to jump in your car and not buckle up, especially when it is one of your only defences in a car crash.

Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Dave Cliff said it was unacceptable and all police districts would be putting extra focus on ensuring seatbelts are worn this year.

In 2016, the seatbelt wearing rate for drivers and adult front seat passengers was 96.5 per cent, a decline from 2014 when it was 97.1 per cent.

You may be thinking "that's nearly 100 per cent, why are you harping on?" But a decline is a decline and I struggle to understand why more people have decided not to wear their seatbelts than they did two years ago.

We had a horror holiday period this year with 19 unnecessary deaths on our roads across the country.

Although those deaths may not been related to seatbelts they are a constant reminder that our lives can change forever in an instant.

So please, protect yourself and your loved ones in every way you can when you get behind the wheel - that includes making it click.