Drivers could face penalty points for not wearing seatbelts as the Government reviews plans that would reduce car crash deaths.
Under the current rules, drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt could face an on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 - applying to both drivers and passengers over the age of 14.
However, some UK Government officials believe this punishment does not go far enough to reduce the 'unacceptably high' number of fatalities. Seatbelts were not worn in 30 percent of car occupant deaths last year, according to figures from 2021.
It comes after Labour MP Barry Sheerman asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing penalty points for people who fail to wear a seatbelt.
Katherine Fletcher MP - who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport until October 27 - answered this question last week.
Ms Fletcher stated: "The Department for Transport knows that in 2021, in 30 percent of all car occupant fatalities recorded, seat belts were not worn.
"This is unacceptably high, and we have been considering options to tackle this including the potential merits of introducing penalty points.
"This might form part of the Department for Transports planned call for evidence on motoring offences."
Responding to this statement, RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: "It's irrefutable that seatbelts save lives, yet the sad reality is that in 30 percent 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.
"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."
When the Department of Transport was approached for comment, it said a planned call for evidence on motoring offences will take place in due course.
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