The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) is reiterating to drivers three reasons to wear a seat belt.
For the past 10 years the number of drivers in the UK wearing seat belts has consistently been above 90 percent, according to TRL. The introduction of seat belt reminders (SBR) into new vehicles has helped to increase wearing rates. But, while most people do wear seat belts in both the front and back seats, there are still some who don’t.
TRL provides the following three reasons to always wear a seat belt:
Not wearing a seat belt can be fatal: Seat belts are one of the most effective safety systems in all vehicle types and consistently prove effective at preventing serious injury and death in the event of a crash. People are twice as likely to die in a crash if they do not wear a seat belt.
Renders airbags less effective: Airbags are designed to work assuming the occupant is wearing a seat belt; not wearing a seat belt makes airbags less effective.
It’s illegal not to wear a seat belt: Drivers and passengers who fail to wear seat belts in the front and back of vehicles are breaking the law and drivers caught without a seat belt face fines of £100. If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500.
TRL’s research into this area can be found here:
Assessment of fitting Seat Belt Reminder systems to passenger vehicles
Why People Do and Do Not Wear Seat Belts
