The Department for Transport has revealed data which shows that one in four deaths in road accidents are of people not wearing a seatbelt.

While figures show that there were 1,793 people killed on UK roads in 2017, 27 per cent of those were not wearing a seatbelt, the highest total since seat-belt wearing was included in the annual accident records in 2013.

A DfT spokesman said: “We have some of the safest roads in the world and we are always looking at ways of making them safer.

The number of deaths where people were not wearing a seat belt is shocking,” he said. “Up to one in four deaths in a car could have been prevented by simply plugging in before moving.”

The seatbelt figures were the most concerning news as the Government published its annual figures on road safety. Of the total of fatalities in road accidents in 2017, 787 were car occupants, 470 pedestrians, 349 motorcyclists, 101 pedal cyclists and 86 others.

Joshua Harris, director of road safety charity Brake, said: “Today’s figures highlight the shocking lack of progress on road safety improvement in Britain and must be a wake-up call to the Government to take action now.

“Progress on British road safety has stagnated and yet the Government sits on its hands and rejects the introduction of policies which are proven to save lives.

“For the individuals, families and whole communities devastated by road crashes, this is simply not good enough.

“We urge the introduction of a more robust driver licensing system, saving young lives and ensuring fitness to drive across all ages; a zero-tolerance limit for drink- and drug-driving, ridding our roads of dangerous and impaired driving; and safer speed limits in our communities and on our rural roads.”

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt stands at £100, rising to £500 if the case goes to court.

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