Seatbelt law - Fine for not wearing seatbelt

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gices
anonymous_2
R
M
K

There is a small minority of people who still refuse to wear a seatbelt whilst driving but if they are caught, do they really know what the outcome will be?

What the law says about seatbelts?

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for all children under the age of 14 to wear a seatbelt. As a driver you are also responsible for wearing a seatbelt but all adults in the car are responsible for wearing their own seatbelts. If you are caught travelling in a car without a seatbelt, you can face a fine between £30 and up to £500.

Exemptions to wearing a seatbelt

Some exceptions are:

  • If you have a medical exemption certificate, then you may travel in a car without the use of a seatbelt.
  • If you are a driver of a goods delivery vehicle and you are travelling no more than 50 metres, you may also be exempted.
  • Or you are the driver of a vehicle performing a manoeuvre such as reversing.
  • Or a qualified driver who is supervising the holder of a provisional licence whilst performing a manoeuvre such as reversing.
  • Or you are disabled and have a disabled person's belt.
  • Or you are a person riding in a vehicle whilst it is being used for a procession on behalf of or organised by the Crown.

For pregnant women, there are bump belts available that sit across the lap and thighs under the pregnancy bump so if you are involved in an accident then your pelvis and hips will take the impact and not your womb. Pregnant women are not automatically exempt from wearing a seatbelt, so if there is one you must wear it.

gices
gices Level 6
I'm a Software Developer and the co-founder of Clever Dodo. Born in Mauritius and now living in the UK, I usually blog about fitness, music, spirituality and driving topics to pass on my knowledge.

7 Replies

K
Kimberly Level 1

Need to produce insurance documents for not wearing seatbelt

Hi

My boyfriend was stopped by the police for not wearing his seatbealt and they have said that he will need to take in his insurance documents. He is on his dad's insurance policy as a second named driver but is the legal owner of his car. Can the police do anything about this if he has not told the insurance company?

Thanks Kimberly

[Migrated from previous topic 10828 dated 22 Jan 2010]

gices
gices Level 6

I'm a bit confused by what you said so maybe a bit of clarification is needed. Your boyfriend is a named driver on his dad's insurance policy, right? Does this car insurance policy cover the car he was driving when stopped by the police? If yes, then there's nothing to worry about. If not, then does he have a car insurance policy for that vehicle? He doesn't need to be the policyholder (main driver), he can be a named driver but if he doesn't have any sort of insurance for the vehicle he was driving, then the police could charge him for driving without insurance.

As far as driving without a seatbelt is concerned, he will have to pay a fine between £30-500.

[Migrated from previous post 743 dated 22 Jan 2010]

M
martinb Level 1

Fine for not wearing a seatbelt but ticket issued with wrong reg number

Hi I got a fine for not wearing a seatbelt but I was driving my sister car and my sister had my car but on the ticket the police officer has put my reg number down. saying I wasn't wearing a seatbelt while driving my own car, but I was in my car and my sister was in my car.

[Migrated from previous topic 11699 dated 03 Dec 2010]

A
Amositeking Level 1

The ticket was issued incorrectly and is unlawfull, this happened to me and I refused to pay it. Needless to say they cancelled it.

[Migrated from previous post 1449 dated 20 Dec 2010]

R
rabcnesbitt Level 1

That's very interesting as the ticket I have been issued has wrong registration all be it by just one letter. Can I tell them I want to appeal it ?

Am I correct in assuming we are talking UK Laws ?

[Migrated from previous post 1656 dated 03 May 2011]

anonymous_2
anonymous_2 Level 1

I was not wearing a seat belt in a mc donalds car park and police stopped me and read me my rights then said I would have to go to court, no ticket issued, is this right?

anonymous_2
anonymous_2 Level 1

The police issued me a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, but on the ticket they have put my date of birth down wrongly, do I have to pay?

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