Nearly 14% of UK motorists regularly drive without a seatbelt, risking heavy fines and higher insurance premiums, according to car insurance company MoneySuperMarket. The warning follows new proposals, backed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, to introduce three penalty points for drivers who fail to wear seatbelts.
Seatbelt Research Highlights Widespread Non-Compliance
MoneySuperMarket warned that roughly 14% of UK drivers regularly drive without a seatbelt, risking both heavy fines and higher insurance premiums. The company stressed that drivers must always wear a seatbelt, unless medically exempt or reversing; if exempt, they must keep their certificate of 'exemption from compulsory seat belt wearing' in the vehicle at all times and update their insurer.
Data from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) showed that in 2023, a quarter of car occupants (25%) who died in collisions in Great Britain were not wearing a seatbelt.
Further research by MoneySuperMarket revealed that 7.6 million drivers (18%) said they have driven without a seatbelt, and over a third (32%) of those have received a fine in the past five years for this offence. The same research reveals that 14% (5.9 million) of UK motorists say they regularly drive without a seatbelt.
Proposed Penalty Points and Current Fines
Currently, drivers face a £100 fixed penalty notice or a maximum £500 court fine for not wearing seatbelts. The Department for Transport said: "Failure to wear a seat belt is not currently an endorsable offence; that means the offender does not incur penalty points."
Under the new proposals, drivers would receive three penalty points for failing to wear seatbelts or ensure children are properly restrained. The DfT added: "We propose that 3 penalty points should apply to all drivers who fail to wear a seat belt or who fail to ensure that any child in the vehicle wears an appropriate child restraint."
Insurance Expert Warns of Premium Increases
Alicia Hempsted, Car Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "Seatbelts are one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce injury and save lives on the road, so it's concerning that a significant number of UK drivers admit to not wearing them when behind the wheel."
"Because insurers use penalty points as a measure of risk, the proposed changes could leave drivers facing more than just a fine. Points on a licence may also push up premiums when it's time to renew," she added.
Hempsted noted exceptions to the law, including when reversing, licensed taxi drivers of private hire vehicles in specific circumstances, certain delivery drivers, and people who are medically exempt. Medically exempt drivers must always keep their certificate in the vehicle and update their insurer. "For most drivers though, the message is simple: wearing a seatbelt isn't just about avoiding fines, it's about saving lives," she concluded.
