Seatbelts

The Facts

• 10 per cent of people say they sometimes don’t wear a seatbelt in the front of a car.

• 24 per cent say they sometimes don’t wear a seatbelt in the back.

• People are less likely to wear a seatbelt on short or familiar journeys or at low speed.

• You’re much more likely to die in a crash if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt - in the front or back.

Seatbelts: The Law

• You must wear a seatbelt if one is fitted. There are only a few exceptions such as when you’re reversing, driving a delivery vehicle less than 50 metres, or have a medical certificate of exemption.

When you do not have to wear a seatbelt - gov.uk

• Children must either be in a car seat, or wearing a standard seatbelt, depending on their age and height.

• Taxi drivers don’t have to wear a seatbelt when carrying passengers or ‘plying for hire’, but passengers in a taxi must wear a seatbelt.

Seatbelt advice for Motorhomes & Campervans

Although it is not specifically illegal to travel in the accommodation area of motorhome or campervan, you should bear in mind these areas have not been designed for use when travelling. Passengers that are unsecured in vehicles present a danger, not only to themselves but to other persons in the vehicle. 

To find out more visit www.gov.uk to learn more about Carriage of passengers in Campervans (external website)

Child Seats: The Law

• Children must sit in an approved child seat, strapped in, until they are 135cm (4 feet 5 inches) tall, or until they are 12 years old (whichever comes first).

• But it is advisable for children to use a child seat until they are 150 cm (5 feet) tall.

• These rules apply to the front and back seats.

Find out more

Advice about seatbelts (external website)

Seatbelts (Fatal 4 Educational Resources)

This presentation is aimed to look at how drivers can improve their driving, to be safer on the roads, whilst analysing some risks of not wearing a seatbelt whilst driving.

The lesson lasts around 20-25 Minutes and is aimed at 16 +. Videos can be played with Subtitles, Captions are available on the Session Plan.

Warning - some viewers may find the presentation upsetting.

Seatbelts Presentation (PPTX, 340KB)

Seatbelts Session Plan (docx, 220KB)

Fatal 4 Factsheet (docx, 485KB)