Millions of drivers face £500 fine over rule 'one in seven regularly break'

ANALYSIS FROM THE AA CHARITABLE TRUST FOUND ONE IN SEVEN DRIVERS REGULARLY SEE OTHER DRIVERS AND ROAD USERS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT WHILE DRIVING ON MOTORWAYS. 08:03, 11 Feb 2025 Drivers have

been issued a new warning as they are at risk of a £500 fine in 2025. Analysis from the AA Charitable Trust found one in seven drivers regularly see other drivers and road users not wearing

a seatbelt while driving on motorways. Edmund King, Director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: “These figures are of huge concern, and action is needed to help raise the importance of

wearing a seatbelt. The fact that one in seven drivers are regularly spotting other drivers and passengers not belting up on the motorway is shuddering and only highlights the desperate need

to strengthen and enforce seatbelt laws.” Drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing their seatbelt when they are supposed to. Mr King added: “Road safety is a shared responsibility,

and wearing a seat belt is a crucial step in protecting yourself and others on the road." READ MORE HOUSEHOLDS ESCAPING INHERITANCE TAX RAID USING 100 PER CENT TAX-FREE OPTION Wearing a

seatbelt reduces the risk of death by around 50 per cent, meaning up to around one quarter of all young car passenger deaths could be avoided if all young passengers put their belts on.

Young, male car passengers are more likely to die unbelted in a car crash than their female peers. Article continues below The research, based on five years of car crash data where seatbelt

wearing status was known, shows 68% of young passengers who die unbelted are male. These crashes are also more likely to happen at night, with 74% of young, unbelted, passenger fatalities

happening in the night or evening. New Department for Transport data shows the rate of seatbelt non-wearing fatalities for car occupants is highest for rear seat passengers. Mr King said:

“It is worrying that a 3-second task is being avoided by a growing number of car users. Many things should be second nature, yet for some reason, not wearing a seatbelt is becoming an

unwelcome trend. "As well as better enforcement, we need to give courage to people to call out their mates when they get in their car and refuse to belt up.”