New penalties for failure to wear seatbelts and illegal number plates

Motorists caught without a seatbelt or using illegal number plates face on-the-spot fines of £60 in a major road safety crackdown launched by the Government.

Fixed penalty notices for failing to wear a seatbelt or putting illegal plates on a vehicle have increased from £30 to £60 yesterday (Monday, June 29).

The increase follows a public consultation seeking views on how to tackle the fact that many motorists persist in failing to comply with seatbelt laws, despite repeated warnings that they are risking serious injury or death to themselves and others.

Whilst educational campaigns and publicity have made considerable differences in behaviour, some drivers and passengers are still ignoring the fact that seat belts reduce the risk of dying in a 30mph crash by 60 per cent.

The increase in fixed penalties also covers misrepresentation of vehicle registration marks. This includes failure to conform with rules on font, size and colour of number plates. The use of illegal number plates can have a significant impact on criminal investigations and crime detection.

(Home Office)