POLICE fined 33 drivers for not wearing a seatbelt during a crackdown on driving in Bolton town centre.

As part of Operation Dice traffic officers were pulling over motorists near the Sweet Green Tavern in Trinity Street yesterday for not wearing seatbelts, using phones while driving and not having tax or insurance.

Operation Dice was launched to tackle motorists who risk lives — their own and others — by not obeying the law.

Police pulled over dozens of cars between 11am and 4pm, including 33 motorists who were fined £60 for not wearing their seatbelts, 14 who were caught using their mobile phones.

Officers seized two cars for not being taxed or insured.

In 2000 there were 118 people seriously injured or killed on the roads in Bolton.

In 2011 it was 79, and Insp Phil Bromley of the road policing unit said it is continuing to fall.

He added: “These operations heighten the profile of what we do. People may say this is to raise cash revenue and that it is not that important, but this is about making sure that people are safe on the roads.

“People need to be aware of everyone who uses the roads, including cyclists and pedestrians, and use the roads properly.

“This is serious because it is about people’s lives. The fewer doors my officers have to knock on to tell people that their relatives have been killed or seriously injured has got to be a good thing.”

Motorist Ismail Patel was fined £60 for not wearing a seatbelt.

He said: “I think it is a good thing the police are doing this. I know people get angry when they are caught but it is for your personal safety.

“You just don’t know what is round the corner. I will be wearing mine from now on.”

Another driver, who asked not to be named, said: “I don’t know why I wasn’t wearing it. I work at a school and we have just had road safety talk this morning so that’s ironic. I panicked when I was pulled over. The police explained why they were doing it and I understand and think it is a good thing, although £60 is a bit steep.”