Drivers could be at risk of losing their driving licence and being banned from the road as new rules are outlined by politicians.
Motorists could be at risk of losing their driving licnece under new rules (Image: Getty)
British motorists are at risk of completely losing their driving licence due to a major seatbelt rule change being considered by officials. Road users could be stripped of their driving licence photocard for not wearing a belt behind the wheel as politicians consider implementing tough new penalties.
Under the current rules, drivers are slapped with hefty financial penalties if they are found not wearing a belt behind the wheel. However, new rules could soon see individuals pick up penalty points against their licence, placing drivers at risk of being banned from the roads.
Tough new seatbelt penalties could catch out road users (Image: Getty)
The Department for Transport (DfT) is running a consultation looking into the changes which could see rules changed within months.
The DfT consultation reads: “The sanction for failing to do so is a fixed penalty notice of £100 or, if the case goes to court, a maximum fine of £500. Failure to wear a seat belt is not currently an endorsable offence; that means the offender does not incur penalty points.
“This section asks the public’s view on whether drivers and passengers failing to wear a seat belt, and drivers who fail to ensure children travelling in the vehicle are suitably restrained, should receive 3 penalty points on their driving licence.”
Motorists could be at risk of having their driving licence taken away from them if they reach 12 penalty points on their licence. Accumulating 12 or more points within three years will trigger an automatic driving disqualification, also known as a “totting-up” ban.
Road users are likely to be off the road for at least six months, but longer restrictions of between one and two years could also be considered. Drivers may be able to reduce the length of the ban by arguing for “exceptional hardship” but this is far from a given.
Government data from Autumn 2023 shows that as many as 97.6% of all vehicle drivers, and 95.2% of all passengers, are wearing their belts. However, data suggests that road users not protected behind the wheel are disproportionately more likely to be injured or killed.
Road casualty data from 2024 shows that 25% of car occupant fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.
A previous Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) report suggested that introducing penalty points would deter people from driving unrestrained.
The DfT consultation added: “The government accepts that such a change could go some way towards reducing the number of car occupants who are killed each year in collisions and that is why we are seeking the public’s view.”
