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

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

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

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

The RAC’s analysis suggests this duty 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 regulation – the place a driver may be fined as much as £500 for not buckling up – is simply too lenient, with a transparent majority of those (69%) considering that those that break the regulation ought to pay each a nice and obtain at the very least three factors on their licences.

That is one thing that will come to move because the Authorities acknowledged 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 with no seatbelt during the last 12 months, with round a fifth of those (22%) saying they don’t belt up at the very least half the time.

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