In-car safety

As well as looking after other road users when you are driving on North Yorkshire’s roads, you also have a responsibility to look after yourself and passengers in your vehicle.

You should always wear a seat belt when travelling in a vehicle – regardless of whether you are sat in the front or back seat. This will restrain you in the event of a collision and prevent you from hitting the steering wheel or windscreen, being thrown around inside, or being ejected from the car – it really is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your safety.

If you crash and are not wearing a seat belt you are twice as likely to be killed than if you were wearing one. In 2007, of the 1,432 car occupants killed, it is indicated that some 34 percent were not wearing a seat belt.

In a 30 mph crash, an unrestrained child will collide with something in the car – the seat, the door, the dashboard – with the same force as hitting the ground after falling from a fourth floor window.

As well as wearing a seat belt it’s really important that you use the correct restraints for babies and children travelling in the car with you, such as booster seats. These ensure that the seat belt works correctly and provide the best possible restraint in the event of a collision.

Adult seat belts are often not suitable for children to use as they do not provide adequate restraint and can lead to serious internal injuries as they are not positioned correctly on a child’s body.

It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that any passenger under 14 years' wears a seat belt or suitable child restraint.


Why people don’t wear a seat belt
There are many reasons given as to why people don’t wear a seat belt. Some people:

  • Forget
  • Can't be bothered
  • Think it unimportant because they’re only going a short distance
  • Find them uncomfortable
  • Can’t find the buckle
  • Don’t want to crease their clothes.


These are all just excuses. Not wearing a seat belt is against the law and could have fatal consequences.

In a crash at 30 mph, an unrestrained back seat passenger will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times their own body weight – most likely killing them.

 

Penalties for not using a seat belt or correct child restraint
If you don’t use a seat belt or the correct restraint on any of your child passengers you will be given a £60 fixed penalty notice. If the case goes to court the maximum fine is £500.