Do you think UK seatbelt laws are too lenient?
January 31st marks the 40th anniversary of the compulsory wearing of seatbelts in the UK but the number of deaths resulting from not wearing a seatbelt is rising.
Seat belts are a legal requirement for all vehicle occupants, with a few exemptions, such as a driver who is reversing; a vehicle being used for police, fire or rescue services; or a delivery driver travelling no more than 50 metres between stops.
However, Department for Transport (DfT) figures show the proportion of car occupants killed in crashes on Britain’s roads who were not wearing a seat belt reached 30% in 2021, the most in records dating back to 2013.
Even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was spotted not wearing a seat belt in an Instagram video he filmed while travelling as a passenger in a moving car during a visit to Lancashire on January 19.
Mr Sunak was issued with a fixed penalty notice but almost a quarter of drivers say seat belt laws are too soft.
Some 24% of 1,800 motorists polled for the RAC said the existing maximum penalty in Britain of a £500 fine is not strong enough and more than two-thirds (69%) of those people think offenders should receive at least three points on their licence as well as a fine.
Furthermore, the poll indicated that 68% of drivers believe the person behind the wheel of a vehicle should be responsible for ensuring all their passengers wear seat belts.
UK drivers are currently only required to ensure themselves and children under the age of 14 are buckled up, with older passengers responsible for being secured.
AA Charitable Trust director Edmund King said: “The humble seat belt is arguably one of the greatest road safety inventions, but they are pointless unless people wear them.
“A fine for not wearing a seat belt simply isn’t enough and we will continue to push for greater Government focus on what interventions can be usefully instigated to ensure improved compliance with this life-saving law.
“This could include penalty points for all legal-age car occupants caught not wearing a seatbelt.”
Do you agree that penalties for not wearing a seatbelt should be increased? Or do you think the current level of a £500 fine is punishment enough?
