More than 700 parents were caught by the police for driving with children who weren't wearing their seatbelts, according to new research.
While most parents make the best effort to keep their children safe in the car, spending hours agonising over the best car seat to buy. But even if you are clued up on child car seat rules, sometimes, kids might play with their seatbelts and unclip themselves, while the car is in motion.
This is not only dangerous but can also lead to the driver being slapped with a fine of up to £500 if caught by the police. Research by Wagonex, using police data available under the Freedom of Information Act, has found that 747 drivers were caught driving while child passengers weren't wearing a seatbelt, with fines totalling a whopping £373,500.
The data also showed that instances tended to spike during school holidays and that over the last 12 months, the most fines were incurred in Manchester. But the data also highlighted a worrying statistic - that the number of fines issued had increased by 15% between January and June 2023, compared to the previous year. This suggests that people might not be aware of the rules around children wearing car seats, or the consequences if they are caught breaking them.
Make sure you know the current seatbelt rules
Under current UK rules, drivers are responsible for any passenger aged up to 14 and can be fined for each child not wearing a seat belt. Drivers caught are given an on-the-spot penalty of £100, and if the case goes to court, can be fined up to £500.
Driving laws also state that it is the driver's responsibility to ensure children have an appropriate car seat until they are either 135cm in height or 12 years old.
Before heading abroad during a school holiday, you should check the rules for the country you are travelling to, making sure you don't fall foul of the laws there.
Areas in the UK where motorists have been issued child seatbelts fines in last year
More than half (58%) of those caught driving with a child not wearing a seatbelt were in the northwest of England, in either Manchester or Lancashire. Almost a fifth of drivers were from the Midlands, with 18% from Staffordshire and Lincolnshire.
The top 10 areas with the most fines, were:
- Manchester
- Lancashire
- Staffordshire
- Lincolnshire
- Northern Ireland
- Northamptonshire
- Hertfordshire
- West Mercia
- Dorset
- Cleveland
Toby Kernon, CEO and founder at Wagonex said: “With holiday mode in full swing, many busy parents may be easily distracted by the challenges of a journey ahead, such as delays and road works – meaning safety checks like seatbelts can get forgotten.
“We expect to see this more so during the school holidays as more and more families prepare for long journeys on the road. If drivers spot a child without a belt, be sure to pull over as quickly and as safely as possible and ensure they are correctly strapped in, potentially even having an adult passenger sit with them for the rest of the journey to prevent it from happening again."
How to keep your child buckled in when travelling in the car
- Regularly explain to children why it is so important they wear their seatbelts and the consequences of not wearing it
- Before each journey, make sure all passengers are wearing their seatbelts before starting the engine
- Prevent boredom by taking car-friendly toys, travel games, or electronic devices to divert attention from messing with seatbelts
- Pay attention to any warning sounds your car emits when a seatbelt is unbuckled
- If your child unbuckles their seatbelt, depending on their age, you can either instruct them to refasten it or pull over when it is safe to do so and refasten it yourself.
- For a child that keeps unfastening their seatbelt, have an adult passenger sit with them for the rest of the journey if you can.
If you have a long car journey planned, try these family-friendly travel car games to keep the kids entertained. Or if you want to buy a device instead, make sure you know how to choose the right tablet for your kids.
-
How to play with Barbie dolls: 6 ways to use the iconic doll as a positive role model at homeIf you have a little one who loves to play with Barbie, there are lots of positive ways in which you can encourage them to play in a way that helps their development and self-esteem. We’ll show you how.
-
Think you're raising a mini-me? It's actually unlikely your child will inherit your personality and could have a temperament closer to a 'random stranger', according to new studyIf you often hear the phrase 'like mother like daughter,' or 'like father like son,' research suggests you're actually only slightly more likely to share familial traits than with strangers.
-
New data highlights the main disparities when it comes to parents requesting flexible working, and sadly we're not surprised by the findingsWe'll give you three guesses as to which parent is more likely to ask for flexible working arrangements from their employer...
-
Record number of families opt-out of claiming child benefit, but the decision could have serious repercussions for your futureStark warning for families as number of parents who opt-out of receiving child benefit reaches 10-year high
-
'It isn’t a holiday – it is crucial bonding time' - 70% of dads can't afford to take two weeks paternity leave, according to new researchThe research also found that only 14 per cent of fathers were ready to return to work mentally after taking their paternity leave
-
Two-child benefit cap 'pushes children into poverty' - campaigners urge government to scrap 'cruel policy' that impacts 1 in every 10 childrenThe controversial two-child benefit cap has met with strong opposition since its introduction in 2017
-
Gen-Z could be costing their parents £1,300 a year, by refusing to do this one thing (but it's not always their choice)It's not just parents who are facing the additional costs, the costs for Gen Z could be even higher
-
More than half of parents want to do this important thing for their kid's education but can’t afford to, according to new researchPressures on the family budget are preventing parents from paying for educational support outside of school
-
75% of mums feel guilty buying things if they earn less than their partners, according to social media poll, and the comments section was part heartbreaking, part inspiringSome mothers felt guilty for spending their partners money, while others saw it as household money instead
-
10 best zoos in the UK based on ticket prices, reviews and value for moneyThe best zoos in the UK have been determined based on a number of key factors, include prices, popularity, Trip Advisor ratings and how many animals they have
