Car passengers continue to flout seatbelt laws

Car passengers are ignoring the risk of serious injury by continuing to flout UK car seatbelt laws. One in three passengers still don’t belt up for every trip in the back according to new research from Barclays Insurance Services.

Shockingly, less than fifty per cent of Londoners always belt up in the back, whilst the South West is the most safety conscious with three-quarters belting up. In addition 11 per cent of men and 14 per cent of respondents aged between 18-24 admitted they didn’t always wear a seat belt in the front, despite strong evidence and advice that this can be a clear life saver if involved in a car accident.

Drivers and passengers are also doing little to avoid whiplash injuries. Even though half of those surveyed had been in a car accident, 45 per cent never think about adjusting their headrests to help limit neck injuries and 26 per cent may adjust their headrest if driving but wouldn’t think about it if just a passenger.

Adrian Grace, managing director of Barclays Insurance Services comments: "These findings reveal a worrying lack of concern amongst motorists for their own safety and those of their passengers. Next time people get into a car we are urging them to belt up in the back, adjust their headrests and check their mirrors. These few simple steps could help reduce the number of serious injuries caused in road accidents."

Motorists are also ignoring even the simplest of safety advice. Only one third regularly adjust their car mirrors on a daily basis, which act as the additional eyes of a driver on the road. One quarter of 18-24 year olds who have only just passed their driving test and shouldn’t have picked up bad habits aren’t adjusting their mirrors even on a weekly basis.