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Original poster

Seat belt fine - London

25 replies

mesha123 · 17/02/2023 20:06

Seat belt fine???

Hi all,

Today I had picked up couple of friends from another country. Although they live in Uk since couple of years but don’t have a car so might not be aware of the rules. One was sitting in the front passenger seat and another a 10 year old child sitting in the back seat ( no car seat).

I completely forgot to remind both of them to put the seat belt on. We drove for about 10 mins. On our way back it occurred to me and asked them if they had the seat belt on and they said no.

We drove from Harrow to sudbury town. How likely am I going to receive a penalty? Will I also receive penalty points on my license. I feel so stupid as usually I am quite careful and never allow children without car seat with me.

OP posts:
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NameOchangeO1 · 17/02/2023 20:14

How would anyone know unless you'd been stopped?

Lcb123 · 17/02/2023 20:18

how would anyone know? Only if you got stopped. It can’t be caught on camera.

Headabovetheparakeet · 17/02/2023 20:19

You would have to be pulled over for this to happen. You weren't so there's no fine.

Original poster
mesha123 · 17/02/2023 20:21

Ohh ok. I thought it's gets caught in the camera and you receive the fine notice by post....

OP posts:
Headabovetheparakeet · 17/02/2023 20:26

mesha123 · 17/02/2023 20:21

Ohh ok. I thought it's gets caught in the camera and you receive the fine notice by post....

How could they tell? Unless they were hanging out the window?

Original poster
mesha123 · 17/02/2023 20:28

How could they tell? Unless they were hanging out the window?

Lol .....that really made me laugh

OP posts:
ThisIsAnAlaia · 17/02/2023 20:46

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Original poster
mesha123 · 17/02/2023 20:55

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Sorry I really don't understand what you meant....

OP posts:
frazzledbutcalm · 17/02/2023 20:55

Lcb123 · 17/02/2023 20:18

how would anyone know? Only if you got stopped. It can’t be caught on camera.

Yes it can be caught on camera …. If the police are doing one of their ‘safety initiatives’ sitting in the van with a camera pointing out the back door window - they’re literally there to get speeders, no seatbelts etc - my husband was caught, received his letter in the post with photographic evidence. He had the option of a safety course or a fine.

LynetteScavo · 17/02/2023 21:13

Speed cameras catch you speeding, not texting or not wearing a seatbelt. That's commune knowledge, who h is why one poster questioned if you were "thick". Those over 14 are responsible for their own seatbelt, but you could have been fined £500 for the 10 yo not wearing one. You should know this if you're driving in the UK.

jannier · 17/02/2023 21:40

How can you be sat next to someone and not know they have no seat belt on?

dementedpixie · 17/02/2023 21:42

You would need to be stopped by the police. Cameras are not there to check if you have seat belts on

Original poster
mesha123 · 17/02/2023 21:54

jannier · 17/02/2023 21:40

How can you be sat next to someone and not know they have no seat belt on?

Coz I have eyes on front and not on sides....

Sometimes we are so focused on driving and take it for granted that everyone will wear their seatbelts as it's a common reflex once we sit in the car and completely forget about double checking it again.

But lessons learnt

OP posts:
CinnabarRed · 17/02/2023 21:57

How did the irritating warning beeping not alert you?

LynetteScavo · 18/02/2023 13:53

It should be automatic to check everyone has their seatbelt on. But then I'm the parent of 3 so it's ingrained in me. You also need to use mirrors etc when driving, you can't just look ahead and go. I actually can't imagine pulling off with out checking everyone is safe - this
morning I irritatingly had to wait for the adult in the passenger seat to do their belt up. My car would have started beeping though, if I'd driven off.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 18/02/2023 14:09

Do you really want friends that don’t care enough about their child to use a seat belt. They’re despicable.

Headabovetheparakeet · 18/02/2023 15:17

Yesthatismychildsigh · 18/02/2023 14:09

Do you really want friends that don’t care enough about their child to use a seat belt. They’re despicable.

Sounds like they're not from the UK and norms on this differ in other countries.

LadyWithLapdog · 18/02/2023 15:24

Do you wear too short trousers and were you doing a video segment for your TikTok reel? Hello, Rishi.

ILoveASpreadsheet · 18/02/2023 15:48

LynetteScavo · 17/02/2023 21:13

Speed cameras catch you speeding, not texting or not wearing a seatbelt. That's commune knowledge, who h is why one poster questioned if you were "thick". Those over 14 are responsible for their own seatbelt, but you could have been fined £500 for the 10 yo not wearing one. You should know this if you're driving in the UK.

@mesha123 The mobile vans can and do issue a NIP for no seatbelt or using a phone but I think it would only be the driver of the vehicle as the notice would go to the registered owner to name the driver. Naming a passenger could be difficult in a lot of situations. The adult is responsible for putting their seatbelt on but as the driver you are responsible for making sure that anyone under 14 is appropriately restrained by a seatbelt and child seat if needed. I’d be very surprised if you received anything in relation to your journey.

MumofSpud · 18/02/2023 15:52

Why would a 10 year old be in a car seat?!

A 10 year old should be able to put on a seat belt without being reminded

How can you think speed cameras can pick up who is wearing a seat belt??!!
Seat belts are usually black - 90% of my clothes in winter are black - the seat belt would be camouflaged!!

ILoveASpreadsheet · 18/02/2023 16:16

MumofSpud · 18/02/2023 15:52

Why would a 10 year old be in a car seat?!

A 10 year old should be able to put on a seat belt without being reminded

How can you think speed cameras can pick up who is wearing a seat belt??!!
Seat belts are usually black - 90% of my clothes in winter are black - the seat belt would be camouflaged!!

twitter.com/northants_srt/status/1501898835693555716?s=61&t=e97_gMgUswL2Gkk2lM_D2Q

27 drivers reported for not wearing a seatbelt by the safer roads team. They don’t just look for speeding motorists.

daffodilday · 18/02/2023 16:18

Sadiq Khan has ensured cameras can capture almost every aspect of our driving and fines are very normal for Londoners just driving through the wrong street at the wrong time. So I do not think you are thick for being unsure OP.

frazzledbutcalm · 19/02/2023 22:07

LynetteScavo · 17/02/2023 21:13

Speed cameras catch you speeding, not texting or not wearing a seatbelt. That's commune knowledge, who h is why one poster questioned if you were "thick". Those over 14 are responsible for their own seatbelt, but you could have been fined £500 for the 10 yo not wearing one. You should know this if you're driving in the UK.

Other cameras/operations however DO catch you with no seatbelt, and issue fines.

frazzledbutcalm · 19/02/2023 22:09

dementedpixie · 17/02/2023 21:42

You would need to be stopped by the police. Cameras are not there to check if you have seat belts on

Wrong. Some cameras and operations DO catch you for no seatbelts, and send a fine through the post.

frazzledbutcalm · 19/02/2023 22:13

MumofSpud · 18/02/2023 15:52

Why would a 10 year old be in a car seat?!

A 10 year old should be able to put on a seat belt without being reminded

How can you think speed cameras can pick up who is wearing a seat belt??!!
Seat belts are usually black - 90% of my clothes in winter are black - the seat belt would be camouflaged!!

Because it’s the law Confused
From Gov.uk - Children must normally use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

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