Drivers ‘ought to make sure 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 accordance with new RAC analysis.

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

Presently, drivers solely have duty to verify they and any kids of their autos are buckled up correctly – with the latter probably 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 legislation – the place a driver might 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 advantageous and obtain at the very least three factors on their licences.

That is one thing which will come to move 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 with out a seatbelt over the past 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 autos. The legislation states there are solely only a few exceptions for not buckling up, together with when deemed medically exempt or when reversing a car.