
Except in a number of specific circumstances, it is an offence for drivers and adult front seat passengers not to wear a seatbelt in a vehicle in which they are provided and as a driver you must also take responsibility for all passengers under 14 (although not for adult passengers). Adults travelling in the rear of a vehicle must also wear seat-belts where they are fitted and the driver must, in addition, ensure that all children under 14 are appropriately restrined.
The regulations relating to the use of seat belts are, it has to be said, somewhat complicated, especially in the manner in which they relate to the use of child seats and in respect of the regulations applying to older vehicles.
So far as children under 3 years of age are concerned, they must use the correct form of child restraint whether travelling in either the front or the back and in the case of children in rear-ward facing seats travelling in the front, it is illegal to drive without disabling a passenger front airbag. A child under the age of 3 may travel in the back of a taxi or private hire vehicle where no child restraint is available
Children aged over 3 but under 12 or 135cm in height must use the correct form of restraint whether travelling in the front or the back (where seat belts are fitted), except:
If the child is aged 12 or 13 and is over 135cm in height, then the driver must ensure that adult seat belts are worn (where fitted).
A number of exceptions exist to the duty to wear a seat belt. These include:
If you have been charged with a seat belt offence then you could face a fine of up to £500, although generally they tend to be dealt with by means of a fixed penalty of £30. The offence does not carry the imposition of penalty points
If you have been charged with a seat belt offence and wish to defend the charge, then contact keepmedriving either by completing the appropriate online information form which you will find in the Getting Help section, by requesting a free call-back using the free, no-obligation call-back form to the right or by phoning us during office hours on 084 4804 4804