Officers say they are disappointed with the results after the first day of the 'Break the Habit' campaign, run in partnership by Nottinghamshire Police and the county council.

More than 20 drivers were given fines on Mansfield's Nottingham Road during Monday morning rush-hour, and police will be at random sites during the next two weeks to snare offenders.

Said roads policing officer, Insp Ben Crane: "I'd have liked to be able to say that we didn't fine anyone –– some people are just really stuck in their ways and it has become habit for them.

"I hope that by a week on Friday we aren't catching anyone, hopefully by then we'll have seen a significant reduction."

Killed

In the past two years, 20 people have been killed on Nottinghamshire's roads and 35 seriously injured because they were not wearing seatbelts.

The crackdown will also target motorists using a hand-held mobile phone while behind the wheel.

Said Chief Insp Andy Charlton, head of the roads policing unit: "We need to break the habit of people not wearing a seat belt. It's been the law for 25 years, but in 2008 there are still people dying in Nottinghamshire because they won't wear a seat belt."

Officers say drivers will be hit with £30 fines for driving without wearing a seatbelt, while folk caught using a mobile phone at the wheel will receive a £60 fine and three points on their licence.

The latest road safety crackdown also comes after the introduction of recent legislation which will see tougher punishment for drivers who cause an accident while using a mobile phone.

Routine

Added Chief Insp Charlton: "Hopefully, this will teach them that wearing your seatbelt is better than being killed or injured and that waiting to make that phone call is preferable to being responsible for killing someone if you use your mobile phone.

"Our aim is to reach that minority of drivers who routinely break what are sensible laws which have been designed to save both their lives and the lives of others."

The 200 motorists caught not wearing seat belts were among a total of 250 across the county stopped by police on the first day of the campaign.

Three drivers were also arrested after being pulled over by officers –– one for driving while disqualified, another on suspicion of being unfit to drive through drugs while a third was under warrant for failing to appear at court.