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| Why are people still not wearing seat belts? | Why are people still not wearing seat belts? |
| (3 days later) | |
| Figures showing that more than one in four car occupants who were killed in crashes in Britain last year were not wearing a seat belt have been described as "shocking" by both road safety campaigners and the government. | Figures showing that more than one in four car occupants who were killed in crashes in Britain last year were not wearing a seat belt have been described as "shocking" by both road safety campaigners and the government. |
| The Department for Transport data shows the proportion of deaths has reached its highest level since records first started being kept in 2013. | The Department for Transport data shows the proportion of deaths has reached its highest level since records first started being kept in 2013. |
| But what could lie behind the rise - and can attitudes be changed? | But what could lie behind the rise - and can attitudes be changed? |
| Britain remains one of the safest places to drive in Europe. And following steep falls between the late 1970s and 2000s, the number of road deaths has remained fairly constant. | Britain remains one of the safest places to drive in Europe. And following steep falls between the late 1970s and 2000s, the number of road deaths has remained fairly constant. |
| The latest figures show that of the 787 drivers or passengers who died in 2017, 27% were not wearing seat belts, compared with 20% in 2016. | The latest figures show that of the 787 drivers or passengers who died in 2017, 27% were not wearing seat belts, compared with 20% in 2016. |
| A 2014 survey found 91% of rear seat passengers in England and Scotland wore seat belts - compared with 98% of drivers and 97% of front-seat passengers. | A 2014 survey found 91% of rear seat passengers in England and Scotland wore seat belts - compared with 98% of drivers and 97% of front-seat passengers. |
| But the government's road safety campaign Think! cites research which shows younger drivers and passengers are less cautious - with those aged 17-34 having the lowest seat belt-wearing habits combined with the highest accident rate. | But the government's road safety campaign Think! cites research which shows younger drivers and passengers are less cautious - with those aged 17-34 having the lowest seat belt-wearing habits combined with the highest accident rate. |
| Yet despite warnings that people are twice as likely to die in a car accident if they do not buckle up, some are still willing to take the risk. | Yet despite warnings that people are twice as likely to die in a car accident if they do not buckle up, some are still willing to take the risk. |
| According to the Department for Transport, adults who do not wear a seat belt include those who occasionally forget as well as others who actively choose not to wear one. | According to the Department for Transport, adults who do not wear a seat belt include those who occasionally forget as well as others who actively choose not to wear one. |
| Some people told researchers they found seat belts uncomfortable or inconvenient to wear. Others said it depended on the type of journey. For example, they would wear one on a long or unfamiliar route or if they were on a motorway. | Some people told researchers they found seat belts uncomfortable or inconvenient to wear. Others said it depended on the type of journey. For example, they would wear one on a long or unfamiliar route or if they were on a motorway. |
| According to the road safety charity Brake, government "inaction" on road safety is breeding "an environment of complacency" among drivers and passengers. | According to the road safety charity Brake, government "inaction" on road safety is breeding "an environment of complacency" among drivers and passengers. |
| Pete Williams, the RAC's road safety spokesman, says the rise in crash victims who were not wearing seat belts warrants further investigation. | Pete Williams, the RAC's road safety spokesman, says the rise in crash victims who were not wearing seat belts warrants further investigation. |
| He said a decline in roads policing over the last 10 years may have encouraged people to feel they can get away with illegal driving behaviour. | He said a decline in roads policing over the last 10 years may have encouraged people to feel they can get away with illegal driving behaviour. |
| "It is surprising that anyone these days would get into a car without belting up," he said. | "It is surprising that anyone these days would get into a car without belting up," he said. |
| "Drivers generally may also feel more cocooned and less at risk because of the level of safety features in their cars such as air bags, automatic braking and side-impact protection." | "Drivers generally may also feel more cocooned and less at risk because of the level of safety features in their cars such as air bags, automatic braking and side-impact protection." |
| He said there was an absence of high-profile road safety messages in the media. | |
| Mr Williams added: "We have generations of drivers who have grown up without seeing the 'clunk-click' messages that many of us frequently saw on our screens and made putting on a seat belt second nature." | Mr Williams added: "We have generations of drivers who have grown up without seeing the 'clunk-click' messages that many of us frequently saw on our screens and made putting on a seat belt second nature." |
| The DfT maintains it is always looking at ways of making roads safer and said this year's Think! campaign is aiming to teach young people the "importance of wearing a seat belt". | The DfT maintains it is always looking at ways of making roads safer and said this year's Think! campaign is aiming to teach young people the "importance of wearing a seat belt". |
| Its data shows the proportion of fatalities not wearing a seat belt varied between 19% and 22% in the years 2013 and 2016, although not all police forces reported figures. | Its data shows the proportion of fatalities not wearing a seat belt varied between 19% and 22% in the years 2013 and 2016, although not all police forces reported figures. |
| Can audible seat belt reminders help? | Can audible seat belt reminders help? |
| Brake cites examples of research papers which argue that audible seat belt reminders have the "proven potential" to increase the seat belt wearing rate. | Brake cites examples of research papers which argue that audible seat belt reminders have the "proven potential" to increase the seat belt wearing rate. |
| A 2006 European Transport Safety Council report found front seat reminders can be provided at minimal cost because the same sensors are used in airbag systems - but rear-seat systems are more costly. | A 2006 European Transport Safety Council report found front seat reminders can be provided at minimal cost because the same sensors are used in airbag systems - but rear-seat systems are more costly. |
| However, regulations requiring car manufacturers to put seat belt reminder systems in all front and rear seats on new vehicles are set to come in force from September 2019. | |
| Seat belts and the law | Seat belts and the law |
| Source: Department for Transport | Source: Department for Transport |