Seat belts
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Driving Law
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Always wear your seatbelt!
Even at low speeds or on short trips, in a crash, you’re twice as likely to die if not using your seat belt.
Young car drivers are the worst offenders for not wearing their seat belts
Young drivers and passengers have the lowest seatbelt-wearing rates, combined with the highest accident rate.
Often believing it’s not cool to use a seat belt, especially if their mates are not wearing theirs.
The reasons given include:
- It makes them look geeky?
- Is it a bit embarrassing?
- It makes them feel uncomfortable?
- “I’m a safe driver.”
- “It won’t happen to me!”
- “What’s the point? I’m only going on a short journey.” (A third of all accidents happen within one mile of the drivers’ home.)
What could happen when you don’t wear your seatbelt?
It only takes three seconds to put your seatbelt on
Driver and passenger should wear their seatbelts, no one can predict another driver’s actions, and you never know what’s going to happen to you or your passengers.
Why not just belt up? It only takes 3 seconds to put on a seatbelt.
You must ensure that children are using the correct car seat or restraint.
Seatbelt and reversing
- You don’t need to wear a seatbelt when reversing.
- You are not required to use a seatbelt when supervising a learner driver who is reversing.
Click the button below to find out how to apply for your theory test NI.
A 30 mph crash without a seat belt
Imagine you are seated in the back of the car in an accident at 30 mph. If you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat – and anyone in it – with a force of between 30 and 60 times your body weight. (Similar to the weight of a baby elephant!)
The accident could result in death or severe injury to you and people sitting in the front seat. There might be a reduction for any compensation for injury following an accident if you were not wearing a seat belt.
You will receive a fine if you don’t wear your seat belt
The law requires you wear a seat belt when driving a car in the UK.
When stopped by the police, if you or any of your passengers are not wearing seat belts then an on-the-spot fine of £100 will apply (maximum £500 fine if prosecuted) to each person not wearing their seatbelt.
The driver of the car is not responsible for passengers over 14 years old who don’t wear their seat belts, but it is the drivers’ responsibility for ensuring that younger passengers wear seat belts or safety restraints.
