Princess Diana's seat belt warning

03 November 2008

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Britain's Princess Diana's death could have been avoided if she had worn a seatbelt, according to the road safety minister.

Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick has claimed the princess paid "the ultimate price", and is using the case as an example to drivers as part of a campaign to promote the importance of wearing seat belts.

He said: "There's so much sensitivity about Princess Diana because of her memory, but the period between then and now is quite significant.

6 million TV advertisement supporting Fitzpatrick's campaign - which shows a driver's heart after his rib cage is ripped open following a collision - is set to be shown after the 9pm watershed tonight (03

"As an example, it couldn't be more graphic."

The princess died in a tragic road collision in Paris in August 1997, along with boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul. Former bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was wearing a seatbelt and survived.

Fitzpatrick said: "The former security officer wearing a seatbelt lived whereas Henri Paul, Dodi Fayed and Diana all weren't wearing seatbelts and they paid the ultimate price."

An inquest earlier this year confirmed the fact the deceased had not been wearing seat belts was a contributing factor to their death.

A £2.6 million TV advertisement supporting Fitzpatrick's campaign - which shows a driver's heart after his rib cage is ripped open following a collision - is set to be shown after the 9pm watershed tonight (03.11.08).Fitzpatrick added: "The graphics in the advert are pretty dramatic, along the lines of television dramas like CSI, but the message is even stronger."Primarily the campaign is focused on the driver but hopefully the message will transmit to everyone in the vehicle."