Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is calling on the Government to penalise drivers more heavily for not wearing a seatbelt.

Penalty points for seatbelt offences are long overdue, says GEM

GEM suggests that the Government should bring the law into line with Northern Ireland, where the law stipulates that any driver failing to wear a seatbelt faces a fine and three penalty points, as do drivers who fail to ensure a child in a front or rear seat is not wearing a seatbelt.

Commenting on the new road safety plans being considered by the Government, GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said: “The Government was made aware more than a decade ago that seatbelt compliance among drivers killed in crashes was just 65%, compared with 94% for the wider driving population. Now that road death numbers in the UK are showing no signs of reducing, it’s time ministers sent a clear message that the Government is serious about reducing casualties.

“Seatbelts reduce the risk of death by 45% for drivers and front seat occupants. They also reduce the risk of serious injury by 50%.

“Research shows time and again that seatbelt laws increase seatbelt use, and therefore reduce deaths and serious injuries.

“We believe that tougher penalties, effectively enforced, would lead to a significant and immediate reduction in the number of drivers and vehicle occupants killed and seriously injured on our roads.”