WEST Midlands Ambulance Service is reminding motorists to buckle up and and hang up before hitting the road.

Almost 30 years ago it became compulsory for drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts and nearly 11 years ago it became an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving.

Jim Hancox, a paramedic and an aircrew supervisor with Midlands Air Ambulance, said: “We see probably the more serious spectrum of patients on the aircraft as we often get called to the most serious road traffic collisions.

"We’re fortunate in the West Midlands now to have three major trauma centres where we can take these patients, if they survive the initial accident, to get good care and rehabilitation.

“I’d urge everyone, every time that you get in the car, to take that split second to put your seatbelt on and put your mobile phone out of the way. That phone call, that text message can wait. The simple action of doing these two things could make the difference between going home to your family, or, ending up in a body bag.”