Do you legally have to wear a seatbelt in the back seat UK?


Do you legally have to wear a seatbelt in the back seat UK? Car drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat belt, unless they have a medical exemption certificate. Adults travelling in the rear of a car must also use seatbelts, if they're fitted. It's the responsibility of the adult passenger (not the driver) to make sure that they are using the seatbelt.


Why is rear-facing safer?

When forward facing, the shoulders, neck, and head are thrown forward due to tremendous crash forces that can cause severe injury and even death. It doesn't take much force to cause devastating injury to a developing body, and rear-facing allows the car seat to absorb more force away from the child.