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.
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The minister said in a written answer published in response to a parliamentary question: "We have been considering options to tackle this including the potential merits of introducing penalty points. This might form part of the Department for Transport's planned call for evidence on motoring offences."
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said of the figures: "It's irrefutable that seatbelts save lives, yet the sad reality is that in 30% of fatal collisions a seatbelt was not being worn. These stark figures underline just how important it is to buckle up in both the front and the rear of the car.
"Putting points on the licences of offenders would be a welcome move, but this must be accompanied by better enforcement," he added.
"While up until this point offenders had to be caught not wearing a seatbelt by a police officer, there is now camera technology on trial in the UK that can be make the process far simpler and more effective. If this technology were to be rolled out alongside introducing points on licences, lives would undoubtedly be saved."
The technology currently being trialled by National Highways and Warwickshire Police is a van with multiple cameras which films passing vehicles to detect motorists who are not wearing a seatbelt, as well as drivers holding a phone. The new technology detected someone driving unsafely every six minutes on average.
You can be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points on your licence within a three-year period. Offences which can currently land you points include speeding, driving without due care and attention, using a mobile phone at the wheel, driving an uninsured vehicle, and drink or drug-driving offences.
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