More than a third of people killed on Kent's roads were not wearing a seatbelt, new statistics from Kent County Council reveal.

In 2015, the county's roads saw 54 fatalities involving people in vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

Of these, 31 were a driver or passenger in a vehicle - 11 of whom were found not to be wearing a seatbelt.

KCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport Matthew Balfour said: “There’s no excuse for people to not use them every time they get in the vehicle.

“Seatbelts have been compulsory since 1983 and people have a legal duty to ensure they are wearing one.

“For those that feel seatbelts are uncomfortable or cause injury, the discomfort from being thrown through a windscreen, being pinned against a steering wheel or being crushed by another car is significantly worse.

“It’s worrying to find that more than a third of people who have died on Kent’s roads were not wearing a seatbelt.

“Over 70% of the crashes where people are killed or seriously injured happen on roads with a speed limit of 30mph or 40mph.

“Seatbelts are simple. They save lives.”

The figures, which do not include crashes in Medway, have been released to coincide with Kent County Council’s Seatbelt Safety Campaign, urging all those who get in a car to buckle up, as these figures are said to be a sharp reminder of how important wearing a seatbelt is.

It has also been revealed through KCC research that 99% of those questioned in a county-wide survey said they understood the need to wear a seatbelt - even if the vehicle was fitted with an airbag.