Seatbelts save lives

Protect yourself and the people around you.

Don’t put lives at risk

You have 50% less chance of surviving in a collision without a seatbelt. It’s the law in Scotland for people to wear a seatbelt at all times – in the front and the back seats of a vehicle.

The facts

21%

Figures show 21% of those killed on Scotland’s roads were not wearing a seatbelt

(source: In-Depth Road Traffic Fatalities Report for the Years 2015-2020)

60%

Wearing a seatbelt reduces both fatal and non-fatal injuries by 60% among front seat passengers

(source: PACTS seatbelt report)

44%

Wearing a seatbelt reduces both fatal and non-fatal injuries by 44% among rear seat passengers

(source: PACTS seatbelt report)

It's not just you who gets hurt. Wear a seatbelt.

Not wearing a seatbelt can have devastating consequences. Your friends’ and family’s lives could all be affected. So, don’t ever skip it – even for short journeys.

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  • Minimum £100 fine

  • Up to £500 fine and points

  • Includes front and rear seats

  • Limited exemptions

Key information

What you need to know

  • Drivers and passengers always need to wear a seatbelt. This includes both the front and rear seats
  • Drivers must ensure children under 14 use a seatbelt (or are restrained in an appropriate child seat)
  • Pregnant women still have to wear seatbelts
  • Damaged seatbelts will automatically fail an MOT
  • There are very few exemptions

Penalties for not wearing a seatbelt

If you don’t wear a seatbelt in the front or rear seats, you’ll face a fine and potentially, points on your licence.

  • £100 minimum fine – if the driver or passenger is over 14
  • Up to £500 fine and three points – for the driver if a child under 14 is not properly restrained

How to wear a seatbelt

If a seatbelt is not worn properly, there’s a higher risk of serious injury. Wearing it the correct way makes sure you – and your passengers – are protected if there’s a crash.

  • The belt should be worn as tight as possible, with no slack
  • The lap belt should go over your pelvis, not your stomach
  • The diagonal strap should cross over your breast bone and rest on your shoulder, not neck
  • Nothing should stop the smooth movement of the belt by trapping it
  • The height of the top of the seatbelt can usually be adjusted on the B-pillar. If you can’t get the seatbelt to fit properly, try adjusting this section
  • Never wear the diagonal strap underneath your arm, as it can seriously hurt you in the event of a collision

Stay safe if you're pregnant

By law, all pregnant women must wear a seatbelt when travelling in the front or rear seats of a vehicle. It’s still safer to be properly restrained – protecting both mum and baby.

How to wear a seatbelt if you’re pregnant

  • Put the diagonal strap between your breasts with the strap resting over your shoulder, not neck
  • Place the lap belt flat on your thighs, fitting comfortably beneath your abdomen and over your pelvis, not your bump
  • The belt should be as tight as possible, so any impact is absorbed by the body’s frame
  • Avoid ‘Lap-only-Belts’ as they can cause serious injuries to your baby if you stop suddenly
  • If the seatbelt is worn properly, both mum and baby will be safer in an collision

Pets in vehicles

  • Loose pets or other animals can be a serious distraction
  • In an accident they can badly injure themselves and other people
  • They should always be securely strapped in place, or in a proper cage

Damaged seatbelts are dangerous

Any damage to the seatbelt, buckles or restraint mechanism is a risk. It also means your vehicle will fail its annual MOT.

  • Seatbelts can be damaged in an collision
  • The webbing can become frayed or cut
  • The catch and release button can stop working
  • The tensioners can lose their ability to react

If any seatbelt part needs to be replaced, use a car dealer’s garage or a qualified expert.

Seatbelt exemptions

There are only a few reasons for not being required to wear a seatbelt. This could be when:

  • A driver is reversing, or supervising a learner driver reversing
  • A vehicle’s being used for police, fire or rescue services
  • A passenger in a trade vehicle is investigating a fault
  • A licensed taxi driver is ‘plying for hire’ or carrying passengers
  • A delivery driver is making deliveries in the same street, but not travelling more than 50 metres between stops

Medical exemptions

  • A doctor can give you a Certificate of Exemption from having to wear a seatbelt
  • The exemption certificate must be in the vehicle at all times
  • And you have to tell your vehicle insurer

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