Put the phone down and buckle up – changes are afoot
Some of you may know that sinking feeling when you hurtle past a mobile speed camera, failing to see it until it’s too late. Most of us can attest to feeling nervous for a good two weeks following driving past a speed camera. Did we get the speed limit wrong? Is our speedometer accurate? Now, technology has made it possible to throw another nasty surprise through your letterbox.
Working from up to one kilometre away, mobile speed cameras have had a tech boost and can now catch other offences such as using your phone, and neglecting to wear a seatbelt.
Other drivers can be quite forceful when refusing to wear a seatbelt, and it’s a requirement I am always quite keen on enforcing. The argument I always face is that it’s not an enforceable law. Actually, as I keep telling them, it is. As well as being illegal, it is also highly reckless and dangerous to anyone in a vehicle. Children, grandparents, and even your dog are all at risk without a seatbelt.
So what are the laws around seatbelts?
If you are pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, and do not have a valid Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing then you could be slapped with a £500 fine (it varies with different police forces). Additionally, you run the risk of adding points to your license and now cameras will be able to catch you in the act. Some are also fitted with technology that allows such behaviour to be caught even when committed in the dark.
Aside from an exemption, there are only a handful of times you don’t have to be wearing a seatbelt and these include:
• A driver who is reversing their vehicle, or they are supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• If the vehicle is being used for police, fire and rescue services
• You are in a trade vehicle as a passenger and you are investigating a fault
• A licensed taxi driver who is carrying passengers
If you are a driver and your passenger is over the age of 14, it is not your responsibility to make sure they are wearing one. It is theirs, but to be safe I would do what I do, and tell them to buckle up or get out. If pulled over they will be fined up to £500 and can get two points on their license.
If you are carrying someone under the age of 14, then it is your responsibility and you can be fined £500 and get three points.
Working from up to one kilometre away, mobile speed cameras have had a tech boost and can now catch other offences such as using your phone, and neglecting to wear a seatbelt.
Other drivers can be quite forceful when refusing to wear a seatbelt, and it’s a requirement I am always quite keen on enforcing. The argument I always face is that it’s not an enforceable law. Actually, as I keep telling them, it is. As well as being illegal, it is also highly reckless and dangerous to anyone in a vehicle. Children, grandparents, and even your dog are all at risk without a seatbelt.
So what are the laws around seatbelts?
If you are pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt, and do not have a valid Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing then you could be slapped with a £500 fine (it varies with different police forces). Additionally, you run the risk of adding points to your license and now cameras will be able to catch you in the act. Some are also fitted with technology that allows such behaviour to be caught even when committed in the dark.
Aside from an exemption, there are only a handful of times you don’t have to be wearing a seatbelt and these include:
• A driver who is reversing their vehicle, or they are supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• If the vehicle is being used for police, fire and rescue services
• You are in a trade vehicle as a passenger and you are investigating a fault
• A licensed taxi driver who is carrying passengers
If you are a driver and your passenger is over the age of 14, it is not your responsibility to make sure they are wearing one. It is theirs, but to be safe I would do what I do, and tell them to buckle up or get out. If pulled over they will be fined up to £500 and can get two points on their license.
If you are carrying someone under the age of 14, then it is your responsibility and you can be fined £500 and get three points.
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