Learn the seatbelt law in the UK and how to avoid fines

Wearing a seatbelt could be the difference between you surviving a car crash and dying in a car crash. It’s a simple as that.

Regulations surrounding the usage of seatbelts were put in place to insure the safety of everyone onboard the vehicle. This article will explore everything you need to know regarding seatbelt and how to avoid unnecessary fines.

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When did it become law to wear a seatbelt

Woman waring a white blouse sitting in the driver's seat putting on seatbelt

It’s been illegal since 1982 to travel in the front seats of a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt – and for good reason: over 2,000 lives are saved every single year by ‘belting up’.

After the law came into effect there was a recorded 90 percent increase in the amount of people wearing seatbelts, and 25 years later, most people do still adhere to this law, simply because it’s dangerous.

Rear seatbelts were optional for a long time, and in the 80s when the law on front seatbelts came into force, there were very few cars that had the rear belts fitted as standard.

In 1991, it became the law for adults to wear suitable restraints in the back of a car wherever they were available.

Why is it important to wear a seatbelt in the rear of a car?

Some people don’t consider wearing seatbelts in the rear of the car as important as wearing them in the front, but they should.

If you’re travelling unrestrained in the back seat of a car that crashes at 30mph, the chances are that you’ll hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force that works out somewhere between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.

It’s also worth remembering that if you apply for compensation after an injury obtained through a car accident, any payment made to you may be reduced if you were not wearing a seatbelt.

What are the laws surrounding seatbelt use?

Woman wearing an orange shirt seating in the passenger seat of a car putting on her seatbelt. Man wearing a jeans shirt seating in the driver's seat putting on seatbelt.

There are a few rules around wearing seatbelts. The law states:

  • You must wear a seatbelt in cars and goods vehicles where there’s one fitted.
  • If a child under 14 doesn’t wear a seatbelt or child restraint, then the driver is liable to prosecution, regardless of whether they’re the parent or guardian.
  • As of September 2006, the regulations changed regarding children and car restraints. They now state that children up to 135cm in height (or 12 years old) must use the appropriate child restraint when travelling in a car, goods vehicle or van.
  • It’s acceptable for a child to wear an adult belt when they reach 135cm or the age of 12, whichever comes first.
  • In buses and coaches with seatbelts fitted, passengers age 14 and above must use them. Public fare-paying passengers travelling in vehicles on 30mph roads are exempt.

No seatbelt fine: What happens if I break the law?

If you’re convicted of driving without a seatbelt, you can be fined up to £500. If you accept a fixed penalty notice, you will usually be fined £60. If you don't accept this, you can be taken to court and fined £500.

If you’re convicted of failing to ensure that a child is adequately restrained (in either a seatbelt or a child restraint) according to the legal guidelines, you can also be fined up to £500. You will not currently be given penalty points on your driving licence for seatbelt offences.

Seatbelt Exemptions

Child with Seatbelt On

If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing the seatbelt, you can get a seatbelt exemption certificate from your doctor. These certificates are handed out to patients with valid medical conditions, and they should be kept in the car.

If you get pulled over by a police officer, you may be requested to show the certificate. You should also inform your vehicle’s insurer of your medical condition and that you have a seatbelt exemption certificate for legal reasons.

Taxi and delivery drivers aren’t legally required to wear seatbelts, even though it’s highly recommended them to.

How to properly wear a seatbelt

The seatbelt will usually be a restraint made up of three points – i.e. it should have a shoulder strap and a strap that goes across your lap.

These will stop you from being thrown out of the car during an accident, and the shoulder strap will keep the weight of your body off the baby in the moments after a crash.

You should always wear your seatbelt in the proper way. The lap strap will go under your stomach, stretch across the width of your hips and sit as high as possible on your thighs.

The seatbelt should be snug, but you can adjust it using the shoulder strap if it is too tight. It’s very important that it should never, ever go right across your stomach – this could be dangerous for your internal organs.

How to wear seatbelt when pregnant

Pregnant woman wearing an above the knee dress putting on a seatbelt whilst sitting in a car

Under the seatbelt law, pregnant women are legally required to wear seatbelts unless stated by their doctor. The tips below will help with seatbelt safety while pregnant:

  • The bottom part of the seatbelt should be positioned on the low hip bones (below the belly)
  • The part that goes on the shoulder should go between your breasts and to the side of the belly
  • Make sure the pregnancy seatbelt isn’t loose

Seatbelt for dogs

Dog inside of a vehicle looking out the window

Carrying animals, such as cats and dogs, in vehicles is listed on the seatbelt law in the UK. Making sure your pet is secure is crucial to keep them safe.

Even though your pet may be super well-behaved, some animals suffer from car anxiety, which could cause them to move suddenly, or do something that will distract you from focusing on the road ahead. Keep your pet restrained while your vehicle is in movement. Your furry friend will feel safer, and so will you.

As the driver, am I responsible for passenger use of seatbelts?

As a driver, you are expected to take responsibility for your passengers; from making sure that you stick to the correct number of passengers for your car, to ensuring that all passengers are wearing seatbelts. Failing to take responsibility for your passengers can land you in hot water with the law.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that the number of passengers in the car does not exceed the maximum. The maximum number of passengers is determined by the number of seatbelts in the car.

You’re legally obliged to ensure that any passengers aged under fourteen in your car wear seatbelts. For children under the age of three, you need to make sure that they’re adequately restrained in a child restraint (such as a booster seat, child seat, baby carrier or baby harness that carries an BS kitemark or a UN "E" mark, and is suitable for the child's weight), especially in the front seat.

Don’t use a child seat that faces backwards in the front seat, if you have front airbags in your car, as there is a risk of being crushed or suffocated.

Children over the age of three should also be adequately restrained in the front and back seats in a child restraint until they reach 4 foot 5 inches or turn twelve.

For children aged over twelve or above 4 foot 5 inches, adult seatbelts should be worn.

Learn more about driving in the UK with Evans Halshaw

The seatbelt regulations were put in place to ensure people’s safety while in the car. Even though nobody wants to be involved in an accident, wearing seatbelts saves up to 2,000 lives every year.

If you’d like to read more tips about driving in the UK, access our Evans Halshaw blog for more guides and maintenance tips that are regularly updated.