Think!

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about seat belts:

When did using a seat belt become law?

It became compulsory to use seat belts in the front of vehicles in 1983, although advertising on using seat belts started ten years before that.

Back seat belt use by children became compulsory in 1989, and for adults it became compulsory in 1991.

Can I be prosecuted for not using a seat belt?

Yes, you can. In 2006 there were some 230,000 penalties or prosecutions in court.

Do I really need to use a seat belt in the back seat of a car?

By law - yes. Seat belts save lives and reduce injuries, whether used in the front or back.  Back seat passengers can be thrown forward onto the person in front of them, klling or seriously injuring them. Calculations have shown that between eight and 15 front seat passengers in cars are killed each year by back seat passengers who weren't using seat belts.

Which kinds of vehicles does the law affect?

It applies to all vehicles that have seat belts fitted, including vans and other goods vehicles. Buses, minibuses and coaches are also affected, but the rules are different - see below.

What are the rules for using seatbelts in mini-buses, buses and coaches?

• Seat belt use is compulsory for adults and children in minibuses under 2.54 tonnes unladen weight. If available, children of three years and above must use an appropriate child seat in these types of vehicles, but there is no obligation on anyone to provide them.
• Seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where they are fitted in all buses and coaches (that is, vehicles of over 2.54 tonnes weight when unladen). Regulations have yet to be made but they will require children under 14 years to use an appropriate child restraint if one is available. If there is no suitable child restraint, they must use the adult belt provided (although those under three years don't have to use an adult belt and can travel unrestrained). The operator is not required to provide a suitable child restraint.
• There is nothing in law to prevent child restraints being used in a bus or coach provided they can be fitted. However, these vehicles may only have lap belts and most child seats need lap and diagonal belts in order to be secured. In addition, the seats in these vehicles may be the wrong proportions for child restraints.
• Vehicle operators must now notify passengers that seat belt wearing is compulsory. This can be done by an official announcement, or an audio-visual presentation, made by the driver, conductor, courier or group leader when the passenger joins the bus or by a sign prominently displayed at each passenger seat equipped with a seat belt. Pictorial symbols must be in the agreed form showing a white figure on a blue background. See the letter from the Department to operators dated 11/08/06 which includes the design of the pictogram.

What is the law on carrying children in a vehicle?

You can find information about child restraints and the law on child car seats in the Children - In car section.

What if there are not enough seat belts for all passengers in a vehicle?

Currently, the law doesn't prevent you from carrying more adult passengers than there are seat belts. However, children up to 135cms tall must use child restraints with few exceptions, which means they must use the seats in the vehicle that have seat belts to secure their restraints. That can limit carrying capacity.

However, the way in which passengers are carried must not cause danger to any person in the vehicle, for instance by overloading with unbelted passengers. Adult passengers without a seat belt can injure others in an accident. The police can prosecute if they judge that an unbelted passenger is a risk to the others in the vehicle.

In a vehicle without rear seat belts (for example a classic car), childer aged three and over can only travel in the back. Those under three can't be carried at all because they must always use a child restraint.

What is the best way to wear a seat belt?

Lap-and-diagonal belts provide the best protection, so it is recommended that they are used before lap-only belts.

• Adjust the seat belt so that the lap belt is as low as possible across the stomach from hip-bone to hip-bone. 
• The diagonal strap should lie across the chest and away from the neck.
• It should slope up and back to the top fixing point and not be twisted. In many cars, you can adjust the height of the top fixing point to make this easier.
• Make sure that the belt is tight with no slack in it.

It isn't recommended to try to make your seat belt more comfortable with padding, cushions or mats. If a seat belt is really uncomfortable, ask your vehicle’s manufacturer if they have a recommended comfort device.

The centre back seats of many cars are fitted with lap-only seat belts that are adjusted manually. Adjust such belts for a snug fit over your hips, without any slack.

Do pregnant women have to use seat belts?

Yes. It may not be comfortable, but it's safer for both the mother and the unborn baby. 

For maximum comfort and safety, pull the lap strap across the hips and fit it comfortably under the bump. Then place the diagonal strap between the breasts and around the bump.

For more information on seat belt use during pregnancy, download the leaflet Buckle up for Baby leaflet in the grey box to the right of this page.

My car is equipped with airbags - do I still need to use a seat belt?

Yes. Airbags are not substitutes for seat belts - they are designed to work with them.

Studies show that airbags reduce severe head and chest injuries in accidents. But given the speed and force with which an airbag inflates, you should always use your seat belt and  not sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard.

The distance between the centre of the steering wheel to your breastbone should be at least 10 inches (25cms).

Airbag systems differ from car to car, so check and follow specific advice from the manufacturer or in the owner's handbook. This is particularly important in relation to children and frontal airbags.

Rear-facing child restraints must not be used in front passenger seats with an active frontal airbag. This is because the restraint will be too close to the dashboard and in an accident the expanding airbag could seriously or fatally injure the child.

Are seat belts for disabled people different?

Disabled drivers or passengers may need to use specially adapted belts which may be different from standard belts. Check through Mobility Centres who may know about suppliers in your area.

Do the drivers of goods vehicles and passengers have to use seat belts? What about bus/coach drivers?

Van and other goods vehicles drivers must by law use their seat belts where they are fitted.  There is an exception while undertaking deliveries or collections if the vehicle travels less than 50 metres between stops.

If the current low seat belt-wearing rates for van drivers and their passengers can be brought up to the levels of seat belt-wearing  in cars, up to 20 lives would be saved and 240 serious injuries and 1,000 slight injuries would be avoided each year.

Like goods vehicle drivers, the drivers of buses/coaches must by law use seat belts where they are fitted in the vehicle.

Do taxi drivers have to use seat belts?

Licensed taxi drivers and private hire drivers have an exception while carrying paying passengers.  Licensed taxi drivers are also exempt while plying for hire or answering a call for hire.  This is for their own security should a passenger attack them - they need to be able to stop and get out very quickly. 

Is anyone exempt from using a seat belt?

There are some exemptions, including on medical grounds. They are for:

• A driver who is undertaking a manoeuvre which includes reversing.  (And someone supervising a learner driver when undertaking a manoeuvre which includes reversing is also exempt).
• A driver or passenger of a goods vehicle undertaking deliveries or collections provided you travel less than 50 meters between stops.
• Drivers and passengers in vehicles being used for police and fire and rescue service purposes.
• The driver of a licensed taxi while it is used for seeking hire, or answering a call for hire or carrying a paying passenger.  A partial exemption applies to drivers of licensed private hire vehicles only when they are carrying a paying passenger.
• A passenger in a vehicle (not the driver) being used under a trade license and who is investigating a mechanical fault; e.g. a mechanic.
• A disabled driver or passenger who uses a special needs restraint may use such a restraint instead of the regular seat belt.

If you think you shouldn't use a seat belt on medical grounds, consult your doctor. If warranted, the doctor will issue you with a  "Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing" . This should be produced if the police ask to see it. For more information, download Medical Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing - Guidance for Medical Practitioners. If you are claiming certain benefits, you may be entitled to get help with the cost of medical examinations for a medical exemption certificate.