In the UK you are required by law to wear a seat belt where there is one fitted in the vehicle. For anyone under the age of 14, the driver is responsible for ensuring that they are suitably restrained, whether by means of a car seat, booster seat or seatbelt.

Statistically speaking, for drivers, wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death by 50%. In 2022, 30% of car occupant fatalities among 17- to 29-year-olds were not wearing seat belts. Due to this worrying statistic, not wearing a seatbelt is one of the #Fatal5. The message from us is very clear.

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT WHEN TRAVELLING IN THE FRONT OR REAR OF A VEHICLE.

What are the consequences?

If you are caught failing to wear a seatbelt as a driver or passenger, or as the driver, fail to ensure a child passenger (under the age of 14) is using the appropriate restraints, you will receive a TOR (Traffic Offence Report), which may result in an awareness course, a £100 fine OR up to £500 should the matter go to court!

For more information on seat belt safety visit the RoSPA website, and visit gov.uk website for the law on seat belts and child seats.