Journalist Danny Kelly has urged the Government to replay graphic videos showing the “gritty horror” of not wearing seatbelts, as figures reveal alarming death rates among unrestrained passengers.
Speaking on GB News, Kelly expressed concern about children he regularly observes “bouncing up and down” in rear seats at traffic lights in the Midlands.
He said: “Since 1991, it’s been legislation in the United Kingdom to make sure that rear passengers have their seatbelts on.
“I guess we need enforcement from a perspective of policing, the police need to be able to visibly see that seatbelts aren’t on.
Danny Kelly called for stricter enforcement of seatbelt wearing
GB News
“It’s easy for police to see that seatbelts aren’t on when you’re at the front of the car. Because of the location of the actual buckle, it travels downwards.
“With rear seat belts, they’re much more streamlined. But just to get back to your point, as a responsible parent, and I must admit, I do see this all the time at traffic lights in the Midlands, kids bouncing up and down on the rear seat.
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“I often wonder, I wish the Government would start replaying those videos which show the gritty horror, the realities of not wearing seatbelts, where like a six stone nine-year-old all of a sudden turns into a 21 stone mini elephants and goes careering right through the back headrest of mom and dad and 40 per cent died, which means 60 per cent survived.
“So if you’re wearing your seatbelts in the back, you’ve got a 60 per cent survival rate.
“I was thinking, like a lot of drivers over the Christmas period, I’ve been having a few drinks and I’ve been getting into Ubers and not on one occasion did I put my rear seatbelt on. So there’s a lot of double standards.”
Analysis of Department for Transport statistics reveals that 40 per cent of back seat passengers killed in car crashes were not wearing seatbelts.
The overall percentage of car occupant fatalities not wearing seatbelts has increased
PA
The figures, covering crashes in Britain over the five years to the end of 2023, show a lower percentage of unrestrained fatalities among front seat occupants.
For drivers, the death rate for those not wearing seatbelts was 23 per cent, while for front seat passengers, it was 19 per cent.
The overall percentage of car occupant fatalities not wearing seatbelts has increased, rising from 21 per cent in 2022 to 25 per cent last year.
The risk of fatal accidents involving unbelted passengers was particularly high
PA
The risk of fatal accidents involving unbelted passengers was particularly high during specific times and among certain demographics, the figures show.
Between 2019 and 2023, around 50 per cent of car occupant fatalities occurred between 10pm and 4am.
Weekend travel proved especially dangerous, with 28 per cent of unbuckled fatalities occurring on Saturdays and 30 per cent on Sundays.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding expressed disbelief at seatbelt non-compliance, stating: “It’s difficult to comprehend why anyone would choose not to wear a seat belt, given the life-saving protection it provides.”