Should Drivers Face Tougher Seatbelt Rules?

A debate is emerging over the UK’s stance on punishments for drivers who don’t wear their seatbelts.

Currently, drivers who are caught not wearing their seatbelts on the road can be fined up to £500, but there are calls from some experts to increase the severity of the maximum punishment.

In fact, a recent study on the subject found that 69% of motorists believe that penalty points should also be handed out to those found not wearing their seatbelts.

Many experts argue that it’s such a crucial safety feature in vehicles that drivers should be responsible for them and their passengers wearing their seatbelts.

Are Seatbelt Rules Tough Enough?

It’s been 40 years since the UK first introduced its seatbelt laws and while little has changed in terms of the belt itself, a lot has changed on our roads in that time.

Vehicle safety has improved significantly but there is a much higher density of traffic on the roads, much more motorway driving, and as fleet operators will know, much more driving as a profession.

All of that adds up to a situation where every single aspect of vehicle safety is crucial to the safety of the driver themselves AND other road users.

There’s a belief amongst some experts that wearing a seatbelt and adhering to best practice in a vehicle creates a safer driver through a phycological desire to do so. By not wearing a seatbelt, a driver could be more prone to taking risks, not concentrating and considering other things not essential.

Basically, if you’re making a conscious decision not to wear a seatbelt, where do you draw the line?

Is indicating now not essential? Are your wing mirrors optional?

What Is The Current Picture?

The current situation is that not wearing seatbelts is a factor in 30% of road deaths every year, a statistic that is incredibly concerning.

Not only that, but you’re also TWICE as likely to die in a crash if you’re not wearing your seatbelt.

The issue is that these statistics are widely known and yet people still choose not to wear them. This highlights the need for more deterrents, according to many, with harsher punishments being one option.

In a recent study, 4% of drivers admitted that they have driven without their seatbelts at least once in the last 12 months. The figure was higher when travelling as passengers, with 7% admitting they don’t wear one while they’re in the passenger seat.

The government are believed to be considering increasing the penalties for driving but many believe that it’s not simply the law that needs to change…

It’s also the mechanism for catching drivers breaking the law. Currently, there’s an over reliance on police catching drivers not wearing seatbelts while there are calls for more cameras to be introduced on major routes to automatically catch drivers flaunting the law, the same way they do with speeding.

Changing driving behaviours while not wearing a seatbelt is one of the major concerns and current compliance with seatbelt laws is purported to be at its lowest ever level.

What do you think the current attitudes towards seatbelts say about road safety in the UK? Do you always wear your seatbelt as a driver AND a passenger? Let us know in the comments below.