Otago Coastal road policing manager Senior Sergeant Steve Larking said an operation in Dunedin yesterday targeted people not wearing seatbelts.
Police stopped traffic in Castle St and issued infringement notices to several drivers and passengers.
The operations would continue during Road Safety Week, which began yesterday, he said.
"We are targeting intersections and we are targeting people not wearing their seatbelts,'' he warned.
District road policing manager Inspector Tania Baron said three of the
four people who died on southern roads last month might have lived if they had be wearing seatbelts.
"The public can expect to be seeing police staff across the district working together to make the roads safer in cities, towns and rural areas.''
Drivers and passengers were obliged to wear seatbelts.
"Whether you sit in the front or the back seat, the risk of serious or fatal injury is virtually the same.''
Buckling up took two seconds and could be the difference between drivers and their passengers staying alive and being seriously injured or killed.
National road policing operations manager Inspector Peter McKennie said about 40% of people who died in a vehicle crash this year were not wearing seatbelts.
"Seatbelts save lives. It's a no-brainer,'' Insp McKennie said.
