UK Survey Finds 22pc of Drivers Don't Wear Seatbelts

A study in the UK has revealed that 22 percent of drivers do not wear seatbelts at all.

The poll by insurance company esure also found that almost the same percentages of drivers don't use seatbelts when they are travelling as passengers.

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Based on replies from 1,372 motorists, the survey also concluded that 5 percent motorists have journeyed without using their seatbelts at all.

One in every six does not wear a belt during short distance journeys, while 10 percent of passengers have to be insisted by the driver to wear them.

Three in every five people driving vehicles to work confessed to seatbelt offences, while, overall, motorists aged 18 to 34 were most likely to offend and those over 65 the least likely to do so.

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The poll also found that 85 percent of women always wore belts as compared to only 73 percent of men.

The Scottish were the most law-abiding motorists with only 29 percent confessing to seatbelt offences.

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"A seatbelt can be the last line of defence for motorists in a serious crash and this research shows that far too many people are still taking unnecessary risks," the Daily Express quoted Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at Esure car insurance, as saying.

"Whether they occur 100 metres or 100 miles away from home, accidents by definition will happen when you least expect.