212 die in crashes without a seatbelt

THE proportion of people killed in car crashes while not wearing seatbelts has reached a record high.

Of the 787 who died last year, 27% – or 212 – were not strapped in, Department of Transport data shows.

From 2013 to 2017, the proportion of fatalities not wearing belts ranged from 19% to 22%.

A DfT spokesman said: “The number of deaths where people were not wearing a seatbelt is shocking. Up to one in four could have been prevented.”

The total number of road deaths in 2017 was 1,793, one more than in 2016. Joshua Harris, of safety charity Brake, said: “The figures highlight the shocking lack of progress and are a wake-up call to the Government.”