New legislation has seen the fine for drivers who fail to wear their seatbelts double in a bid to reduce car accident casualties.

Following a public consultation to find out the views of people on how to address the fact that many motorists fail to comply with seatbelt laws, despite the fact it increases the risk of them being seriously injured or killed should they be involved in a road accident, it was decided that the fixed penalty fine should be increased.

The fixed penalty fine for failing to wear a seatbelt for adults whether they are the driver or passenger has increased from £30 to £60.

It is also the driver’s responsibility to ensure that any occupants under 14 use a seatbelt or suitable child restraint or they will again face a £60 fine.

Although educational road safety campaigns on seatbelt safety have helped to get more motorists to use their seatbelts, their are still vehicle users killed most days in car accidents on the UK's roads which would have been prevented had a seatbelt been used.

In a car crash at 30mph, correct use of a seatbelt will reduce the risk of being killed by 60%.

Alan Campbell of the Home Office, a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State said: "The vast majority of motorists wear seat belts but we need to go further to make it clear to those who do not obey the rules that they are not only risking their lives but others too.

"By increasing the fixed penalty, we are sending a clear message to motorists that we will crack down on them if they are caught failing to take this vital safety precaution. This is not about taking money from motorists; it’s about doing all we can to keep the public safe on our roads."