Seatbelts keep you in your seat if you are involved in a crash and massively reduce the chance of serious injury and death.
It is essential that both front and back seat passengers always use their seatbelt, both for their own safety and the safety of other vehicle occupants. In a crash an unrestrained back seat passenger can be thrown forward with enough force to kill the driver or front seat passenger if they hit them.
Drivers are legally obliged to ensure passengers younger than 14 wear seat belts and appropriate child restraints in line with current child restraint law. Drivers can be prosecuted for allowing a child to travel in a vehicle unrestrained.
In order for a seat belt to protect you:
- The lap belt should be as low as possible over the hips and the shoulder belt should be lying on the chest and over the shoulder (or have the lap belt flat on the thighs and the shoulder strap between the breasts if pregnant).
- There should not be any slack in the belt.
- You should never use padding or cushions to improve seat belt comfort.
- They must be in good working order.