Drivers ‘ought to make sure that passengers belt up’ – Automotive Weblog

Greater than two-thirds of motorists consider drivers ought to be chargeable for guaranteeing all their passengers put on seatbelts, in keeping with new RAC analysis.

The research coincides with the fortieth anniversary of a UK legislation coming into pressure requiring drivers to put on seat belts.

Presently, drivers solely have accountability to ensure they and any youngsters of their automobiles are buckled up correctly – with the latter doubtlessly needing to be in a baby automobile seat or booster seat relying on their age or peak.

The RAC’s analysis suggests this accountability ought to be broadened to incorporate all passengers, with a 3rd of respondents (33%) additionally believing that drivers ought to be penalised within the occasion anybody they’re travelling with is caught not carrying a seatbelt and placing themselves in danger.

1 / 4 of motorists (24%) consider the present legislation – the place a driver may be fined as much as £500 for not buckling up – is just too lenient, with a transparent majority of those (69%) considering that those that break the legislation ought to pay each a high quality and obtain at the least three factors on their licences.

That is one thing which will come to cross because the Authorities said final Autumn it’s contemplating the deserves of introducing penalty factors for these driving with out seatbelts.

4 per cent of drivers – the equal of round 1.7m full driving licence holders in Nice Britain – admit to driving and not using a seatbelt over the past 12 months, with round a fifth of those (22%) saying they don’t belt up at the least half the time.

In distinction, 7% of respondents admitted to not carrying a seatbelt when travelling as passengers in different automobiles. The legislation states there are solely only a few exceptions for not buckling up, together with when deemed medically exempt or when reversing a automobile.