MORE than 4,600 drivers have been caught behind the wheel without a seatbelt in Dorset since January.

Police revealed the “alarmingly high” figures on the day that they launched a brand new initiative designed to tackle the problem.

For 12 months from today, offenders will be given the chance to take up an e-learning seatbelt course at a cost of £36 instead of paying a £60 fixed penalty or going to court.

Officers hope the educational aspect of the course will have more effect than a financial penalty.

Drivers across the county are being targeted as part of the No Excuse campaign, which has detected 12,500 motoring offences in the last 10 months.

Officers discovered that many drivers believe it is their personal choice to refuse to wear a seatbelt despite the practice being illegal for 27 years.

One in four drivers or front seat passengers killed in 2007 were not wearing a seat belt, with the figure rising to three in four rear seat passengers.

“We believe the public don’t always realise the huge difference a seat belt can make if they are involved in a collision.

“It can quite literally be the difference between life and death,” said Laressa Stephenson, education operations manager for Dorset Police.

“We are confident that by launching this new initiative to educate drivers and passengers we will really change and influence behaviour and save lives.”

Drivers offered the online course must complete it within 14 days of the offer.