Van drivers being told to belt up

Deliveries could be taking a little longer as postmen, milkmen, dustmen and delivery drivers are all being told to belt up.

Environment minister Arlene Foster said some delivery drivers thought they did not have to wear a seat belt at all on local rounds.

From May, van drivers will only be able to ignore using the belt if there is only 50 metres between each delivery.

She said in 2006, 43 van or light goods vehicle occupants were killed or hurt.

"There is no valid reason why the safety of delivery drivers and passengers should continue to be compromised through their failure to wear seat belts," Mrs Foster said.

"The former legislation was not well understood and many goods vehicle occupants assumed incorrectly that they were not required to wear seat belts, irrespective of the distance travelled.

"Although seat belt wearing in motor vehicles is at an 'all time high' of 95%, at least 25 of the 87 vehicle occupants who died in 2006 were not wearing seat belts."