Humberside Safety Camera Partnership
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Seat belts
The following advice has been taken from the Think! road safety website and we acknowledge any copyright. Further information and advice about driving can be found at Think! and The Highway Code websites.
For your own and others' safety, the law requires you to use a seat belt if one is fitted.
Seat belt wearing in the front seat saves over 2,200 lives every year. Everyone knows they should wear a seat belt in the front seat, but many people still don't realise how dangerous it is not to wear a seat belt in the back.
In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight.
Such an impact could result in death or serious injury to both yourself and front seat occupants. Any award for damages following an accident may be reduced if you were not wearing a seat belt. In law:
- You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted. There are few exceptions to this and the driver is liable to prosecution if a child under 14 years does not wear a seat belt.
- You must not carry an unrestrained child in the front seat of any vehicle.
- Children under three years travelling in the front of any vehicle must be carried in an appropriate child restraint. The adult belt may not be used.
- If an appropriate child restraint or seat belt is available for use in the front, but not in the rear, children between 3 and 11 and under 1.5m in height must use the front seat restraint or seat belt.
The law is summarised in the table below:
| Who? | Front Seat | Rear Seat | Who is responsible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Seat belt must be worn if fitted | - | Driver |
| Child under 3 years of age | Appropriate child restraint must be worn | Appropriate child restraint must be used if available | Driver |
| Child aged 3 to 11 and under 1.5 metres (approx 5ft) in height | Appropriate child restraint must be used if available - if not an adult seat belt must be worn | Appropriate child restraint must be used if available - if not an adult seat belt must be worn if available | Driver |
| Child aged 12 or 13 or a younger child 1.5metres (approx 5ft) or more in height | Adult seat belt MUST be worn if available | Adult seat belt MUST be worn if available | Driver |
| Adult passengers (aged 14 or upwards) | Seat belt must be worn if available | Seat belt must be worn if available | Passenger |
Which vehicles does the law affect?
Front seats of all vehicles, including vans, coaches, buses and goods vehicles where seat belts are fitted. Rear seats of cars and small minibuses (with an unladen weight of 2,540kgs or less) where seat belts are fitted. Whilst the law does not presently require seat belts to be worn in the rear seats of larger minibuses or coaches, they should be used if fitted.
