Seatbelt ticket saved driver, police say

Police in Christchurch believe ticketing a young driver for not wearing a seatbelt may have saved his life.

Two officers who stopped a car in central Christchurch last Saturday night noticed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt despite all his passengers being belted up.

Several hours later police were called to a serious crash west of Christchurch where two cars had collided after one failed to stop at a compulsory stop sign.

The driver who had been ticketed in the city earlier had failed to see the stop sign, but he was wearing his seatbelt.

Both vehicles were badly damaged and police believe the seatbelt may have saved the young man's life.