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Anybody aged 14 or over faces £500 fine if they take their seat belt off in car

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date12 August 2022
Publication titleWalesOnline (Wales)
According to the Highway Code seat belt offences can lead up to a £500 fine for those not wearing one. Those over the age of 14 are responsible for making sure they are wearing their own seat belt for any car journey, with only one person allowed in each seat fitted with a seat belt

The offences also extend to children, with seat belt laws requiring any children in the vehicle to be in the correct car seat for their weight and height. Drivers can be fined up to £500 if a child under the age of 14 isn’t wearing a seat belt or is not in the appropriate car seat.

With recent news that one in four people were killed on UK roads due to not wearing a seat belt, here's how to avoid a fine and keep your family safe.

Check the law regarding car seats

Certain car seats and booster seats must be worn for children of a certain age or height. A car seat should usually be used until a child is 12 years old, or 135cm tall. If you’re under 12 or 13 but over 135cm you must be wearing a seat belt.

Know which seats are suitable for babies

Certain rules must be followed for how a baby is positioned in a car and the car seat type depending on age and height. Seats known as i-Size must be rear facing until the child is 15 months, afterwards a child can use a forward-facing seat.

You must only use EU approved height/weight car seats in the UK. Sizes and positions a child must be facing for weight-based seats, are on the Gov.uk website. Make sure to deactivate airbags if a child is in the front seat and sitting facing the rear.

Make sure your car seat is fitted correctly

There are a number of car seats available to purchase, all with different instructions on how to fit them correctly. Make sure you follow these instructions carefully, follow manufacturer advice and seek help online if you’re struggling. Some retailers may be able to help fit your car seat for you if you purchase them from their store...

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