The Government are considering introducing penalty points for drivers caught not wearing seat belts, after figures show it is a factor in a shocking number of roadside fatalities.
Katherine Fletcher, former Roads Minister for the Department for Transport (DfT) stated “We know that in 2021, 30% of all car occupant fatalities recorded, seat belts were not worn. This is unacceptably high, and we have been considering options to tackle this including the potential merits of introducing penalty points.”
This consideration is part of a call for evidence on all motoring offences that the DfT have promised to publish soon. IAM RoadSmart will be responding to the publication in due course.
At present, drivers and passengers caught failing to wear a seat belt face an on-the-spot fine of £100, and, if prosecuted, can face a maximum fine of £500.
You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in your seat, with only a single occupant per seat belt. You must make sure that any children in the vehicle are either in the correct child seat for their height or weight until they reach 135 centimetres tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first, or are wearing a seat belt if a child seat isn’t necessary.
As the driver, you can also be fined up to £500 if a child isn’t in the correct car seat or not wearing a seat belt whilst you are driving.
Seatbelt Exceptions:
In very few circumstances, you’re not required to wear a seat belt. Those being:
- a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
- in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
- a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
- driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
- a licensed taxi driver who is ‘plying for hire’ or carrying passengers
Source: https://www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law/when-you-dont-need-to-wear-a-seat-belt
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research said:
“Penalty points for drivers who don’t wear their seatbelts is a ‘no brainer’ in our view and IAM RoadSmart have been calling for these stronger sanctions for years. The technology to enforce seatbelt wearing exists right now in the form of mobile speed camera vans with a human operative who can see and record the offence being committed. Unfortunately, the use of such cameras to detect seatbelt and handheld phone use is a postcode lottery with some camera partnerships adopting it and others not. The DfT and Police Chiefs should get together urgently to send out a clear message that mobile speed cameras will catch you if you are not wearing a seat belt.”
Are you or your fleet ready?
As business drivers or fleet managers, you may be in a hurry – time scales and delivery windows can be tight. Jumping in and out of your vehicle between deliveries without applying your seat belt may be tempting, however, in the grand scheme of things you’re saving at most seconds, yet vastly increasing the severity if you’re unfortunate enough to be in a collision.
What are you doing to ensure you, or your fleet are using their seat belts? Have you got in place the correct zero-tolerance policies and risk assessments to mitigate the temptation?
