Drivers should face tougher seatbelt rules

Drivers should be responsible for ensuring all their passengers wear seatbelts and face larger fines for not buckling up, according to a new study by the RAC.

Research that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the UK’s seatbelt law found that more than two-thirds of motorists (68%) believe drivers should be penalised if their passengers aren’t wearing a seatbelt.

The study also found that a quarter of motorists (24%) believe the current law – where a driver can be fined up to £500 for not buckling up – is too lenient, with a clear majority of these (69%) thinking that those who break the law should pay both a fine and receive at least three points on their licences.