 She said: 'The Department for Transport knows that in 2021, in 30pc 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 Transport's planned call for evidence on motoring offences.' It became a legal requirement to wear a seat belt in the front of a vehicle in 1983, and they eventually became mandatory in rear seats eight years later. Last year, a parliamentary advisory group said the current £100 fine no longer acted as a deterrent ( Getty Images/Maskot) But last year, the parliamentary advisory council for transport safety (Pacts) said the existing fine no longer acts as a deterrent. The group, which was set up by MPs and was involved in the seatbelt){kind=link}
Motorists could soon be given points on their licence for failing to wear a seatbelt under plans being considered by the government following alarming new statistics
Drivers could be hit with penalty points if they don’t wear their seatbelt under new proposals being considered by government.
Officials at the Department for Transport are understood to be discussing the new measure after it emerged 30% of all fatalities on British roads last year involved people who had not buckled up.
It is the the highest proportion since records began.
Currently, offenders face a £100 penalty rising to £500 in the courts for not wearing a seatbelt, though many will be instead be offered an alternative online seatbelt awareness course which costs £53.