Drivers warned to make sure children are wearing seatbelts during holidays

The vehicle safety company Snooper has advised drivers to double check that their children are buckled up before setting off on trips this summer. 

With the school summer holidays underway, many families will be setting off on long journeys which may lead to younger passengers removing their seatbelts.

Gary Digva, the founder of Snooper, explained the best ways to make sure their children know to always fasten their seat belts when travelling.

He said: “Never start the car engine until children, and everyone, including the driver, is securely buckled in.

“Parents should explain to their kids how important seatbelts are to their safety and warn them that there can be severe consequences if they remove them.”

Between June 2021 and June 2022, 29,804 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads, with 24 percent of car occupant fatalities caused by not wearing a seatbelt. 

Since UK law made seatbelts mandatory for front passengers in 1983 and rear occupants in 1991, it is estimated that they have saved tens of thousands of lives.

However, Snooper expressed concern that most passengers found not wearing a seatbelt in a car are located in the rear, where children are more likely to sit.

Gary described what drivers should do if they notice their child has unfastened their seatbelt whilst travelling.

He explained: “Should a child undo the fastening, the driver should pull over as soon as it is safe and repeat how important seatbelts are to keep them safe.

“Under no circumstances should a driver ever let anyone in the car travel without being strapped in because not only is it illegal, but it could also end in serious injury.”

Under current law, drivers can face an on-the-spot fine of £100 for not wearing a seatbelt, increasing to £500 in some cases.

Motorists can also be fined up to £500 for travelling with a child under 14 years old who isn’t fastened up and in an appropriate booster seat.

Alternatively, they may have to attend an online ‘seat belt course’, costing £52.80, which highlights the importance of buckling up before setting off.