SAFETY

Seatbelts Laws and offences relating to seatbelts
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All new cars must have:
Front and rear seatbelts fitted that must be worn.

Older cars that do not have seatbelts:
Do not need to have them fitted and worn.
However if seatbelts are fitted in older cars they must be worn.

In 1983 the wearing of front seatbelts became compulsory for adults; in 1991 the wearing of rear seatbelts became compulsory. Since then the Regulations have been extended and now, unless covered by an exemption, adults and children must wear a seatbelt or restraint.

Exemptions There are a significant number of exemptions to these requirements, and it is recommended that further advice is sort if you believe you fall within one of the relevant categories of driver or passenger.

A general summary of the law

	Front seat	Rear seat
Driver	Seatbelt must be worn if fitted
Passenger aged 14 or over	Seatbelt must be worn if fitted	Seatbelt must be worn if fitted
Child under 1 year in carry cot	Permitted if the cot is strapped	Permitted if the cot is strapped
Child under 3 years	Appropriate child restraint must be used	Appropriate child restraint must be used if one is available
	If no restraint is available in a car, the child must travel in the rear. However, if no restraint is available in the rear, but is available in the front, the child must travel in the front
CHILD aged 3 – 11 years and less than 1.5m in height (approx. 5 ft)	Appropriate child restraint must be worn if available. If not, an adult belt must be worn	Appropriate child restraint must be worn if available. If not, an adult belt must be worn if available
	If no restraint or belt is available in the rear but is available in the front, the child must use the front one, BUT a child can only use an adult belt in the front if there is no available child restraint in the rear
CHILD aged 12 or 13 years or a younger child 1.5m or more in height (approx. 5ft)	Adult seatbelt must be worn if available	Adult seatbelt must be worn if available

A 'child restraint' means a seatbelt which is designed for the use of a young person either by fitting directly to a suitable anchorage or to be used with a seatbelt for an adult.

Responsibilities

An adult is personally responsible for not wearing a seatbelt
If a child is being carried and not wearing an available seatbelt or restraint, it is the driver who is responsible.

Penalties

ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1988	GENERAL NATURE OF OFFENCE	MAXIMUM FINE
Section 14	Adult not wearing a seatbelt	£500
Section 15(2)	Child not wearing a front seatbelt or restraint	£500
Section 15(4)	Child not wearing a rear seatbelt or restraint	£200
Section 42	Breach of Construction & Use Regulation requirement as to the fitting or maintenance of seatbelts, anchorage points etc.	£1000 – £2500 in the case of a goods vehicle or a vehicle adapted to carry more than 8 passengers