Health, Safety and Environment

Twenty-five Years of Seatbelt Laws

10 June 2008

The year 2008 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of seatbelt wearing laws in the UK and the Department for Transport is reminding all drivers they have a duty to ensure that belts are worn by all who drive and travel in private and commercial vehicles.

According to Government statistics seatbelts have prevented an estimated 60,000 deaths and 670,000 serious injuries since 31 January 1983 when seatbelts were made mandatory for drivers and front seat passengers. Research shows nine out of 10 people agree it is dangerous to travel in the back of a car without a seatbelt but only seven in 10 adults actually wear belts when sitting in the back.

However, there are four groups that have low belt wearing rates:

• young men,
• rear seat passengers,
• company drivers,
• goods vehicle drivers.

The business case for adopting good practice is very clear; every year 14,000 thousand road deaths and serious injuries occur involving vehicles driven on company business. This is a significant human cost and financial burden for businesses.

Seatbelt Facts

• 75% of passengers thrown from a car die. Unbelted occupants are 30 times more likely to be thrown from a car.
• In a crash at 30mph, if unrestrained, you will be thrown forward with a force up to 60 times your own bodyweight.
• The latest surveys show 93% of adult front seat passengers and 94% of drivers wear seatbelts. For back seat passengers, 93% of children (under 14) and 70% of adults are secured.
• All the safety features you paid for in your car were tested with the assumption you would be wearing a belt - without a seatbelt, those safety features are not designed to work.
• If you are not wearing a seatbelt and you have a crash, there may be implications for how much your insurer might pay in respect of injuries.
• Once one person puts their seatbelt on, everyone else in the car is more likely to do so.

(Statistics Source - Department for Transport)

All drivers are urged to wear their seat-belt at all times and don't use the mobile phone whilst driving.