Drivers could face three points for kids not wearing a seat belt in harsh new rules
By law, all drivers and passengers must wear a seat belt while travelling in a car, van or other vehicles
Stricter penalties could be on the horizon for drivers caught with children under 14 not wearing seat belts, as UK law mandates all passengers to buckle up. Drivers are tasked with ensuring that youngsters in their vehicles are safely strapped in or face fines.
Currently, a fine of £100 penalises non-compliance, climbing up to £500 if contested in court. However, Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety at Devon and Cornwall Police, urges the government to tag penalty points onto such offences, proposing a combination of a £500 monetary penalty and three points on the driver's licence.
Leisk has also highlighted that officers will conduct 'safeguarding checks' with legal guardians of the 109 children recently found without seat belts. He expressed bafflement that some consider it acceptable to not use seat belts, especially considering the risks: "I'm struggling to understand why people think it's OK not to wear a seat belt, particularly young people in their vehicles. In the event of a forward collision or if the vehicle were to brake sharply, the weight of the parent would crush the child against the front of the car."
Devon and Cornwall Police have expressed their shock at the "truly alarming" number of children caught on AI cameras not wearing seat belts. During a summer crackdown, the force's high-tech cameras spotted 109 youngsters flouting safety rules among over 2,000 individuals nabbed for the same offence on A-roads.
The region has been pioneering the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras in recent trials, which have revealed not only seat belt violations but also drivers using mobile phones and even passengers steering the vehicle. These advanced cameras are mounted higher than traditional speed and security cameras, providing a better vantage point to peer into vehicles and detect misdemeanours, as per RAC insights.
These AI cameras boast sophisticated vehicle monitoring systems capable of peering inside cars to scrutinise driver behaviour, with the findings relayed back to local law enforcement for further action.
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis highlighted the potential of these smart cameras, stating: "AI-equipped cameras that can automatically detect drivers breaking the law offer a chance for the tide to be turned. The police can't be everywhere all of the time, so it makes sense that forces look to the best available technology that can help them catch drivers acting illegally."
Data from Vision Zero South West, alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, revealed a staggering 2,239 seat belt offences captured by AI cameras on the A388 between Saltash and Launceston from July 25th to August 17th 2024.
Further analysis revealed that over 800 mobile phone offences were detected during the same time period.
