UK: Can you get away without wearing your seatbelt? | Your Rights Explained

According to https://www.britsafe.org/about-us/... The British Safety Council campaigned tirelessly for over twenty years until wearing a car seatbelt while driving become a legal requirement in 1983. When it comes to death by driving, titles are no protection from harm and the law applies to everyone.

(Cc) https://www.driving.co.uk/news/technology/skoda-working-glow-dark-seatbelts/

Although in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland it is a (summary) criminal offense not to wear a seatbelt, if you were injured in a car accident you may still however be entitled to file a lawsuit/claim, or be entitled to compensation, because according to https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/... The simple answer is yes you can still make a personal injury claim for an injury you sustained in a road accident without a seatbelt but the case will be more complicated and the amount of compensation you may receive will be reduced.

What are the current exemptions to the seatbelt law?

You MUST wear a seatbelt by law in England, except where the following exemptions apply. You are not by law required to wear a seatbelt if you are, a driver whom is reversing, or who is supervising a learner driver whom is reversing, if you are in a vehicle used for fire, police, ambulance, or rescue services, if you are a passenger in a trade vehicle and are investigating a fault, if you are driving a goods vehicle that is travelling no-more than fifty metres, or if you are a licensed taxi driver whom is plying for hire, or carrying passengers, you also do not need to wear a seatbelt if you have a 'medical exemption certificate'. It is also an offense to have more than one person in each fitted seat. You do not need to wear a seatbelt if your car is old, and was not by law supposed to have them fitted at the time that the car was made.

What is the penalty for failing to comply with the seatbelt legislation?

If you/your passengers under 14 years of age are caught without wearing your seatbelt, you may be issued with a £500 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), if you are over 14 years of age then you are responsible for your own seat-belt. You may however opt to take the matter to magistrates court, to challenge the fine, and the evidence held against you.

Do I have to pull aside if the police catch me with no belt?

Yes! the police may stop you for whatever reason they wish, and you MUST stop when instructed to do so, failure to do so will likely result in dangerous/other driving charges, including failing to stop for police being bought against you.

Should I opt to go to court?

It is entirely up to you whether you choose to pay the fine, or whether you take it to court, however the likelihood of the police being able to prove that you weren't strapped in is incredibly low, the chances of them being able to prove this are even lower if you were a back-seat passenger with tinted windows, the chances of admissible evidence is far lower if you put the seatbelt on straight away when you saw the police before they had noticed you. The police will likely need a 'confession' to prosecute you with valid evidence, you are under no legal obligation to disclose the offense because you have the 'right to remain silent'. You should decide to take the matter to court if there is a lack of evidence, or you believe that the police acted unlawfully whilst stopping you/your passenger(s), however you should be aware that if you opt to go to court and there does happen to be valid evidence held against you then you may receive an even higher sanction.

What MUST I/my passengers do if the police stop me, or my passengers?

Your passengers are under no legal obligation to disclose any information about themselves/anything, however if the officer(s) have 'reasonable suspicion' that you have committed a criminal offense then you MUST disclose your personal information to them. The driver MUST always provide any information about themselves, their car, and their details, however the driver is 'usually' under no obligation to disclose their passengers details, except in exceptional circumstances.

Should I wear a seatbelt morally?

According to https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/seatbeltbrief/index.html Seat belts dramatically reduce risk of death and serious injury. Among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. ... People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash.

You have the 'right to remain silent', note: anything you do say may be used against you.