Motorists could be hit with substantial fines for flouting one of the key rules of the road, new figures suggest. Research by the AA Charitable Trust has revealed that one in seven drivers often spot others not wearing a seatbelt on motorways.
A recent survey highlighted that 15 percent of participants have seen other motorists driving without a properly fastened seatbelt. Additionally, 14 percent observed passengers without seatbelts on Britain’s fastest roads, reports the Express.
The survey drew attention with 14,074 AA members weighing in between 14 January and 21 January 2025. Edmund King, the head 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.”
GOV.UK clarifies that road users can incur fines up to £500 for not wearing their seatbelt when required. Drivers are also responsible for ensuring that children under 14 have their seatbelts fastened, with the same financial repercussions at stake for non-compliance.
Beyond fines, the lack of seatbelt use poses a significant threat to safety. Data from the AA indicates that nearly a third (29 percent) of young drivers aged 17 to 29 who were killed in accidents were not wearing their seatbelts.
Shocking statistics reveal a startling 95 percent of a particular group, specifically male drivers, risking their lives by not wearing seatbelts, a simple practice that can halve the chances of dying in a crash. Edmund said: “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and wearing a seat belt is a crucial step in protecting yourself and others on the road.”
He added: “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.”