The Road Safety Authority has called on children to play an active part in road safety by taking a pledge to ensure their parents tell all car passengers to fasten their seat-belts.
The authority's "Seatbelt Sheriff Car Safety Initiative", which will run in primary schools, aims to involve children in road safety.
"Children can have a big influence on the behaviour of their parents," said Noel Brett, the authority's chief executive, who launched the campaign in Dublin Castle yesterday.
"The 'Seatbelt Sheriff' campaign uses this influence in a very positive way and plays a part in saving lives and preventing injury," he said.
Mr Brett said the Road Safety Authority's aim was to have all passengers wearing seat-belts for their own safety.
According to 2005 figures, four in 10 primary school children travelled unrestrained in the back seat of cars.
In the front seat only 70 per cent of children wore a seat-belt.
It is hoped that getting the safety message out to children will have a knock-on effect in the future.
Among adults, the number of front seat passengers wearing seat-belts was 85 per cent in 2005, but the figure for back seat passengers was 46 per cent.
The campaign will include a colouring competition with a prize of €3,000.