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Who, what, why: Why do so many drivers shun seatbelts? | Who, what, why: Why do so many drivers shun seatbelts? |
(3 days later) | |
It is more than 30 years since it became illegal to drive without a seatbelt, yet up to two million drivers in the UK are still risking it, with 47% not knowing it could incur a fine, according to a new survey. Why is that, asks Luke Jones. | It is more than 30 years since it became illegal to drive without a seatbelt, yet up to two million drivers in the UK are still risking it, with 47% not knowing it could incur a fine, according to a new survey. Why is that, asks Luke Jones. |
Even before it became law in 1983, television screens were filled with hard-hitting and sometimes harrowing seatbelt safety ads. | Even before it became law in 1983, television screens were filled with hard-hitting and sometimes harrowing seatbelt safety ads. |
In 1963, viewers were told "the difference between an ugly smash-up and just a nasty shake-up could simply be the seatbelt habit". | In 1963, viewers were told "the difference between an ugly smash-up and just a nasty shake-up could simply be the seatbelt habit". |
"You know it makes sense," the voiceover boomed. That habit was taken up by around 90% of drivers after it was put into law, according to the Department for Transport, and further campaigns, now collected on the government's Think! website, have kept it high. | "You know it makes sense," the voiceover boomed. That habit was taken up by around 90% of drivers after it was put into law, according to the Department for Transport, and further campaigns, now collected on the government's Think! website, have kept it high. |
So how is it that a poll by LV car insurance has found that 6% of drivers in the UK are still taking to the roads without a seatbelt? According to government figures, if you have a crash, you're twice as likely to die if you are not wearing a belt. But two million of us are doing it anyway, the poll says. | So how is it that a poll by LV car insurance has found that 6% of drivers in the UK are still taking to the roads without a seatbelt? According to government figures, if you have a crash, you're twice as likely to die if you are not wearing a belt. But two million of us are doing it anyway, the poll says. |
The title of that first seatbelt awareness advert was "It can't happen to me". According to Graham Hole, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Sussex, that is exactly what many drivers believe today. | |
"Many simply do not think they'll ever need them," says Hole. "There is a self-serving bias where people think they are more likely to survive than other people, and less likely to ever be involved in an accident in the first place." | |
Just as with drink-driving, those who return unscathed begin to think they can do it. A "constellation of riskiness" forms, which fuels more bad driving practice. | Just as with drink-driving, those who return unscathed begin to think they can do it. A "constellation of riskiness" forms, which fuels more bad driving practice. |
Some see it as a point of principle, while others offer a range of excuses. "One man told us he did not want to ruin his tan," Sgt Rob Heard of Hampshire Police reported when the constabulary took part in a Europe-wide campaign to crack down on drivers not wearing seatbelts. "A couple of people stated they never wore a seatbelt and would still not wear one because they felt that was their right." | Some see it as a point of principle, while others offer a range of excuses. "One man told us he did not want to ruin his tan," Sgt Rob Heard of Hampshire Police reported when the constabulary took part in a Europe-wide campaign to crack down on drivers not wearing seatbelts. "A couple of people stated they never wore a seatbelt and would still not wear one because they felt that was their right." |
But many, such as the television presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson, think it is down to laziness and a relaxed attitude to risk. "We now have a generation who see cars as just another consumer item like a washing machine," he says. He also points out that with modern vehicles, it is harder to avoid the seatbelt. There is a "cacophony of buzzers and beepers in cars reminding people now". | But many, such as the television presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson, think it is down to laziness and a relaxed attitude to risk. "We now have a generation who see cars as just another consumer item like a washing machine," he says. He also points out that with modern vehicles, it is harder to avoid the seatbelt. There is a "cacophony of buzzers and beepers in cars reminding people now". |
As well as the safety risks of not belting up, there is considerable risk to the wallet - not wearing a seatbelt carries a fine of up to £500. According to the survey, £8.2m in fines have been issued so far this year to 80,000 drivers. | As well as the safety risks of not belting up, there is considerable risk to the wallet - not wearing a seatbelt carries a fine of up to £500. According to the survey, £8.2m in fines have been issued so far this year to 80,000 drivers. |
Belt up | Belt up |
Source: ICM online poll for LV car insurance | Source: ICM online poll for LV car insurance |
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