Seat Belt Laws

31 January 2013

Seatbelt laws were first put into place thirty years ago but we still face issues with their use. However the IAM has highlighted that one in five (19%) motorists claim to know someone who doesn’t use a seatbelt in the front of their car.

Laws requiring the compulsory wearing of seat belts came to effect in January 1983. Latest figures taken from the Think Annual report 2011 show 95 per cent of drivers and 96 per cent of front seat passengers wear a seat belt with 89 per cent of rear seat passengers using one.  Yet every year not wearing a seatbelt is still a contributory factor in more than 220 deaths and serious injuries.

The IAM states that:

• A higher number of younger motorists know someone who does not wear a seatbelt compared to the older age group.
•  In the back of the car, 41% of 18-29 year olds know someone who doesn’t wear a seatbelt compared to 25% of 45+ year olds whilst for in the front of the car, 36% of 16-29 year olds know someone compared to 11% of 55+ year olds.
• Drivers and passengers aged 17-34 have the lowest seat belt wearing rates combined with the highest accident rates.
• 14 per cent of adults still admit to being inconsistent seat-belt wearers.