One In Ten Passengers Failing To Belt Up

Despite long running awareness campaigns by safety organisations and motor insurance companies, one in 16 drivers and one in ten front seat passengers are still failing to belt up, says motor insurance research.

And despite the law requiring back seat passengers to wear seatbelts being almost 15 years old, a fifth of those who answered a motor insurance survey said they still did not.

Figures compiled by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) show that 15 front seat occupants are killed every year by the impact of unbelted rear seat passengers.

"We're concerned to learn that, despite the serious consequences, people still aren't wearing a seat belt every time they travel," said a motor insurance manager.

"It's particularly worrying that less than half of respondents admitted to always belting up in the back seat. At a crash at 30mph, an unbelted 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.”

"If drivers and passengers were to put on a seat belt every single time they travel, lives would be saved. This simple fact should be enough to encourage everyone to belt up," he added.

Be Wiser is a quality provider of Motor Insurance.