A seat belt law that has been in place since 1991 could be updated following a new government consultation under the Labour administration.
Currently, failing to wear a seat belt in the UK results in a £100 fixed penalty notice, or a fine of up to £500 if the case goes to court. However, it is not currently an endorsable offence, meaning drivers do not receive penalty points on their licence.
The consultation proposes that this could change. The government is now seeking public input on whether drivers and passengers who fail to wear a seat belt, and drivers who fail to ensure children are properly restrained, should be given three penalty points in addition to fines.
The Department for Transport highlights that seat belts are one of the most effective ways to reduce death and serious injury in car crashes. Labour officials noted that the introduction of mandatory seat belt use in 1983 (and its 1991 expansion to all vehicle occupants) was a landmark moment for road safety.
Citing research from PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety), the government emphasised the life-saving benefits. A meta-analysis of studies from Norway found that seat belts reduce fatal and non-fatal injuries by 60% among front seat occupants, and by 44% for rear seat passengers.
Additionally, another study cited showed that rear seat passengers who wear seat belts halve the fatality risk for front seat occupants.
To support awareness, the Department for Transport recently relaunched its THINK! campaign, its first in over a decade. The campaign specifically targets young men, who are statistically most at risk of being seriously injured or killed in crashes when not wearing a seat belt.
If implemented, the new penalty point system would bring seat belt offences more in line with other motoring violations and potentially improve compliance rates.
