Brits in need of a belt-up reminder

A quarter of Brits have driven on a public road without wearing a seatbelt, despite the dangers it entails, reveals moneysupermarket.com.

Thirty-nine per cent of drivers who haven't belted up said they simply forgot while, worryingly, 11 per cent said they either find belts too restrictive or they don't think they will have a crash.

Wearing a seatbelt saves over 2,200 lives every year, and it is Britain's 18 to 24 year olds setting the best example, with only 13 per cent having failed to buckle up – or about half the rate of the British population.

Peter Gerrard, head of insurance research at price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, said:" It's astonishing so many people drive without wearing a belt when it's such a basic safety precaution. As well as being a lifesaver, a seatbelt can be an extra precaution for your finances, helping ensure insurance claims are paid out and you don't get a £500 fine.

"Providers such as the RAC and Swiftcover will not pay out a motor insurance or personal injury claim to those not wearing belts, while the AA, Barclays, Budget, Kwik-Fit, Marks & Spencer, the Post Office and Zurich are unlikely to.

"It's essential to wear a belt and ensure all of your passengers are strapped in too."