Drivers and passengers could face hefty fines for not wearing seatbelts, with serious safety concerns highlighted by recent data.
London: The RAC is sounding the alarm for drivers and their passengers. If you’re caught in a car without a seatbelt, you could be hit with a fine. Recent stats from the Department for Transport show that a shocking 40% of back seat passengers who died in crashes weren’t buckled up.
This data looks at accidents in Britain over the last five years, wrapping up in 2023. The numbers are pretty grim, with fatalities among those not wearing seatbelts rising from 21% in 2022 to 25% in 2023. And guess what? Most of these accidents happen late at night or on weekends.
The RAC’s website lays it out clearly: if you’re caught without a seatbelt and don’t have a valid excuse, you could get a £100 fine right on the spot. And if you’re driving, you’re responsible for making sure kids under 14 are buckled up. If they’re not, you could be fined for each child not wearing a seatbelt.
For those over 14, it’s on them to wear their seatbelt. If they don’t, they could also face a £100 fine. The good news is that not wearing a seatbelt won’t add points to your driving record or affect your insurance. But if it goes to court, that fine could jump to £500.
In light of these findings, RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding expressed disbelief that anyone would skip wearing a seatbelt. He pointed out that while car safety has improved a lot over the years, it’s all for nothing if people don’t use the safety features designed to protect them.
He also mentioned that while raising fines or creating tech to stop cars from moving without everyone buckled up could be options, the real issue is personal responsibility. Parents play a key role in teaching their kids to buckle up, making it a habit from a young age, no matter how short the trip.
