In January 31, 1983, it became the law that drivers and front-seat passengers had to wear a seatbelt. From 1989, kids aged 14 and under also had to buckle up.

Fast forward to today and seatbelts are believed to have saved tens of thousands of lives since being made a legal requirement. According to the Road Safety Observatory, seatbelts are believed to be:

  • 50% effective at preventing fatal injuries for motorists
  • 45% effective at preventing serious injuries
  • 25% effective at preventing minor injuries.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at the humble belt’s effectiveness. Without one, your body would experience hitting whatever is in front of it, i.e., a stationary vehicle, at a force that is up to 60 times your own body weight.

Slow learners

Sadly, despite this, there are still drivers out on the road who regularly fail to wear belt.

The latest research from the RAC reveals one in 25 of motorists didn’t drive with a belt in the past year while 22% admitted to not wearing a belt for at least of half of their journeys.

According to the survey, nearly 70% of drivers want people who refuse to belt up properly punished if caught. Also, 68% believe the driver should be held legally responsible for ensuring all passengers are wearing a seatbelt.

Belt up please!

Currently, you can expect a fixed penalty of £100 if caught without a belt on but there are calls for three points to be added to the offender’s licence as well.

Regular readers of Theory Test Pro’s blog will recall there were discussions for such a law change to be introduced in 2021 – but it has yet to surface.

It’s a sad fact that the stats surrounding the risks of going belt-less should offer plenty of motivation to buckle up.

For instance, in 2021, official figures show that 30% of the people killed in a crash were not wearing a belt. And the age group most likely not to reach for their seatbelts? Those aged between 17 and 24.

“A fine for not wearing a seatbelt 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.”

• Edmund King, president of the AA

Exceptions to the rules

While you should always buckle up, there are some exceptions. These include when reversing so you can look round properly or if you have a medical exemption. In the latter’s case, it is strongly recommended you have your ‘Certificate of Exemption’ in the car just in case you are stopped by the police.

Know Your Code

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