Nearly a quarter of drivers think that the current punishment for failing to wear a seat belt is not enough, according to a new survey.
Motorists can be fined up to £500 if they are found to be driving without their seat belt fastened, or if a child under the age 14 travelling in the vehicle is not wearing a seatbelt or is not in the correct car seat. But 24% of drivers think that this penalty should be tougher, a survey carried out by the RAC has suggested.
The motoring organisation polled 1,800 drivers about the current regulations around wearing seat belts, as January 31 marks the 40th anniversary of drivers being required by law to buckle up. The survey indicated that more than two thirds of people (69%) believe anyone caught not wearing a seat belt should be slapped with three points on their licence as well as receiving a fine for the offence.
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Meanwhile, a similar proportion of motorists (68%) said that the person behind the wheel should be the one responsible for ensuring all passengers in the vehicle are wearing seat belts. Currently, drivers are only responsible for themselves and any children under 14.
36% of people said they were in favour of more police on the roads or more camera technology to pick up more offending drivers who are not wearing seat belts. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was fined by police after appearing in a social media video in the back of a moving car without a seat belt on.
However, 4% of those surveyed admitted to driving without a seat belt in the last 12 months - and of these drivers, 22% said that they did not buckle up on at least half of their journeys. There are only a few exceptions to the law when it comes to wearing seatbelts, including for those in vehicles used for police, fire and rescue services, people carrying out deliveries who are travelling no further than 50 metres between stops, and drivers who are reversing.
Figures from the Department for Transport showed that the proportion of those killed on the roads who were not wearing a seat belt reached 30% in 2021, a figure which the then-transport minister described as "unacceptably high". The department said that it was "considering options" to reduce this number, including "the potential merits of introducing penalty points".
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: "Today’s anniversary provides the ideal moment for the Government to show it’s serious about improving safety on our roads and put an action plan in place for getting more of us to buckle up in the first place. For most people, getting into a car and putting on a seat belt is second nature but it’s obvious more needs to be done to get those who haven’t developed this habit to change their ways.
"Our research shows drivers are clearly supportive of greater penalties, which we know the Government is considering. But, arguably, toughening the law isn’t enough: drivers need to think there’s a good chance of being caught in the first place."
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