New AI cameras could leave drivers with £500 fine for incorrect seatbelt use

Motorists across the UK could soon find themselves slapped with a fine and penalty points for not wearing their seatbelt correctly, as new AI cameras are being trialled to spot the issue

Motorists could now be caught for a number of road offences, including not wearing their seatbelts correctly without even being pulled over by officers. A new state-of-the-art AI camera technology is currently being trialled to spot offences such as bad driving, not wearing a seatbelt or texting behind the wheel.

Being caught with a child in the car who isn’t wearing their seatbelt can result in a hefty fine of £500 while drivers themselves lacking the safety gear face £100 on-the-spot fines, three penalty points and a mandatory online education course which they’ll have to pay for. However, even if you are wearing a seatbelt, being strapped in wrong could be just as detrimental not just financially but also in regards to your health if you get into an accident.

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, explained how to appropriately wear a seatbelt, including for pregnant women and children, as well as the exemptions when you don’t need to be wearing it. The expert highlighted that drivers should adjust their seat, not their seatbelt, to ensure it doesn’t affect their ability to drive.

The lap belt should fit snugly across your hips, not your stomach, and the shoulder belt should cross your chest not your neck. The belt must not be twisted which can be dangerous in the case of a collision.

An expert has sounded the alarm for motorists, cautioning that items like keys, pens or phones should never be kept in shirt pockets as they could cause harm in a crash. The safety specialist also advised: "Do not tuck your belt under your arm - this defeats the purpose of wearing the belt and will not provide much protection in an accident."

Expectant mothers have been reminded to wear the lap part of the seatbelt below their bump and across their thighs, while the diagonally-crossing section should lay between the breasts and over the collarbone, steering clear of the belly. Additionally, it's imperative that any child under 12 years of age or shorter than 135cm is secured in a car seat or booster seat.

Certain situations do permit not wearing a seatbelt, including when you're reversing, supervising a learner driver who is reversing, operating a vehicle for emergency services, troubleshooting faults in trade vehicles or if you're a licensed taxi driver on the lookout for fares. Goods vehicle drivers may also ditch the belt for short hops under 50 metres during deliveries. For those with medical exemptions, possessing a doctor-issued Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Seat Belt Wearing is essential.