Research by LV= has revealed that 2.3 million drivers* are still not always wearing a seatbelt 25 years after it becoming law. This is despite the fine for not wearing a seatbelt being as much as £500**.

In the UK there are 37,000 fatal or serious injuries every year on the roads***, many of which could be prevented by wearing a seatbelt.

Aside from the cost of fines and safety implications, any insurance claim made by a driver who has been injured whilst not wearing their seatbelt is likely to be reduced even if they are not at fault in the accident.

The problem of not wearing a seatbelt is even worse when it comes to passengers.  Nearly four in ten (38%) said they don’t always bother to belt up in the back, despite it also being compulsory for the last 17 years.

Of these, the worst culprits are the 35 – 44 year olds, who are twice as likely to forget or not really think about belting up in the back as 18 - 24 year olds (52% to 26%).

Martin Milliner, Head of Technical Claims at LV=, said: “It’s particularly worrying that people in their thirties and forties are apathetic to using a seatbelt, especially as they are more likely to be travelling with their children than younger drivers, sending out the wrong message.     We would really urge drivers and passengers to think again about their safety and ensure that everyone in the car is buckled up on every journey – in some cases it could be the biggest favour they ever do for friends or family.“

People cite a variety of reasons for their reticence to wear seat belts - 43% claim they just ‘do not think about it’ or simply forget.

The top reasons motorists gave as an excuse for not wearing a seatbelt were:

• Forgot (22%)
• Didn’t think about it (21%)
• Was going on a short journey (16%)
• It’s too fiddly (14%)
• It’s uncomfortable (11%)
• It’s not law so I don’t bother (3%)
• It crumples my clothes (1%)
• I don’t think it will make a difference in an accident (1%)

Men are the least safety conscious with 38% of backseat male passengers admitting they don’t always wear a seatbelt.

As with drivers, passengers who are injured in a car accident whilst not wearing a seatbelt could find any compensation is reduced, even if the driver of the vehicle they are in is not at fault and the other road user is responsible.

The research found that motorists are very confused about who is responsible for ensuring that passengers are belted up – both in the back and the front. Nearly two thirds (65%) of British adults wrongly believe that it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that a front seat passenger has belted up, when in actual fact the responsibility is their own regardless of where they are sitting in the vehicle.

Financial penalties for not wearing a seatbelt can be severe.  Fines can be as much as £500 and involve a court appearance. Despite the public’s relaxed attitude to wearing a seatbelt the Police take the matter very seriously. In 2004, Police issued more than 210,000 fixed penalties, written cautions and prosecutions.

Even though the law states it is the responsibility of the passenger, LV= is urging drivers to remind anyone travelling in their car to belt up to reduce injuries and deaths on UK roads. Nearly half of all drivers in the 25 – 34 year old age group (48%) said they don’t always check if their passengers are wearing a seatbelt in the back, potentially putting both themselves and other passengers at risk.

Martin Milliner, Head of Claims at LV= comments; “Whilst it is the passengers’ own responsibility to make sure they are properly buckled up, drivers should also ensure that this is happening, as much for their own safety as the passengers. Many passengers said they forgot to belt up when in the back of a car so a timely reminder from the driver before setting off could save the lives of family and friends travelling in their vehicle.

“It has been 17 years since rear seat belts became compulsory and our research suggests that the message is still not getting through and confusion remains regarding the law and the consequences. Over 2.7 million adults**** never wear a seat belt when travelling as a passenger in the car and over 3.5 million***** don’t believe there is a fine for being caught without one.”

 Notes

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,047 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 31st - 2nd January 2008.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

* 33.3 million motorists in GB (according to the RAC Foundation). 7% admitted to not always wearing a seat belt.   33,300,000 / 100 x 7 = approx 2.33 million

** lawontheweb.co.uk

***  Brake.org.uk

**** 44.5million adults in the GB (electoral commission) 1% of passengers in the front never wear a seat belt and 5% of passengers in the back said they never wear a seatbelt. 44.5m / 100 x 6 = 2.7m

***** 44.5 million adults in GB 8% don’t think there is a fine for an adult not wearing a seat belt in the back of a car 44,500,000 / 100 x 8 =  approx 3.56 million

Older drivers and female motorists shouldn’t be lulled into thinking a specialist insurer will always offer the best deal, according to research from price comparison site moneysupermarket.com.

For example, a 30-year-old woman with a typical Focus, Astra or Megane will find the cheapest women-only brands will quote her an average of £269 – 55 per cent more than traditional providers at £174. Women-only car insurer Diamond averaged £301 for these scenarios, or 73 per cent more.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: “Specialist insurers such as Sheilas’ Wheels, Ladybird and Diamond promote themselves to women as the value alternative, catering specifically for their needs. But our research shows it pays to shop around all of the market. While these insurers may sometimes come up trumps on price, and with extra benefits such as handbag cover, chances are they will be usually be beaten on premiums.”

The message is the same for older drivers. A 60-year-old, again with a Focus, Astra or Megane, would pay an average of £88 with Swiftcover and £255 with RIAS – or almost three times as much.

Richard Mason added: “Motorists shouldn’t only rely on specialist insurers no matter what specialist group they may be in. It pays to scour the market for the best cover to suit your needs.

“With specialist providers such as Sheilas’ Wheels also entering the home insurance market, there is even more onus on consumers to shop around for the best price and cover.”