Did you know?
Wearing a seatbelt is quick, effective and the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself in a vehicle. Whilst you may wear yours most of the time, it's important that you wear one every time you get into a vehicle. There are lots of reasons to make sure you’ve clicked.
Seatbelts save lives
- Your risk of a fatal injury is reduced by 50% when you wear a seatbelt. They are described as "the single most effective feature in the car to fulfil this role".
- All other safety features in cars, such as airbags, are only designed to work when the occupant is wearing a seatbelt.
- If you crash at 30 mph and are unrestrained, your body will hit anything in front of you, including another passenger or driver, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.
- £1.94 million is the estimated cost to the Scottish economy of every road fatality. Therefore the cost to the economy of road deaths where seatbelts are not worn is estimated to be £101 million per year.
- It is as effective to wear a seatbelt in the back of a vehicle as in the front.
- Always wear a seatbelt when travelling as a passenger or driver.
- Where they are provided, you should always wear a seatbelt on a bus, coach or minibus.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that children are correctly restrained and use the appropriate restraint for their weight, age and size.
- £60 is the cost of the fixed penalty notice you will get if caught not wearing your seatbelt, although it could be anything up to £500. The driver is also responsible for anyone aged under 14 not wearing a seatbelt, and liable for the £60 penalty for each unrestrained child.
