Failing to wear seatbelts while travelling in a car could result in drivers being given penalty points on their licences as well as a fine, under new government proposals.
The measure is one of 74 outlined in a new action plan on road safety published by the Department for Transport.
It says that in 2017 27% of car deaths involved people not wearing a seatbelt – meaning one in four car deaths could have been prevented by belting up.
Currently offenders are given a £100 on-the-spot fine.
Road safety minister Michael Ellis said: “Far too many people are not wearing a seatbelt while traveling in a car, needlessly putting their lives at risk.
“Increasing penalties for people who disregard the simplest of way of protecting themselves is just one of a long list of actions this government is taking to help keep people safe on our roads.”
Among the other measures outlined by the government is an investigation into whether alcolocks – devices that measure the alcohol in a driver’s breath and stop a vehicle from starting if that level is too high – can reduce drink-driving reoffending.
Graduated driving licences, which could mean young drivers who have just passed their test being prevented from driving at night, are also being considered.
