Motorists could soon face tougher punishments for failing to wear a seatbelt while driving under new plans proposed by the Government.
Under current laws, drivers can be fined up to £500 if they are found not to be wearing a seatbelt - but in the future they could be hit with penalty points for the offence. The Government revealed that it was considering the change after worrying data was published by the Department for Transport.
The data showed that 30% of people killed in cars on UK roads last year were unrestrained, a figure which then-transport minister Katherine Fletcher described as "unacceptably high". The minister explained that it was looking into tougher punishments in a big to encourage more drivers to buckle up, The Mirror reports.
