MOTORISTS caught without a seatbelt face an increased on-the-spot fine of £60 from today.

The penalty for failing to belt up when in a vehicle has doubled, following calls for tougher fines.

Government ministers said some drivers and passengers continue to flout the law despite the increased risk of death and injury in a crash.

Fixed penalties for illegal number plates, including those with non-standard fonts and spacing, also doubled to £60.

Senior police officers have said speed cameras and other monitoring devices sometimes fail to capture non-standard registration plates. Home Office minister Alan Campbell 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.”

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said: “Every day, someone dies because they do not think they always need to use a seat belt.

“This tragic waste could be avoided if everyone took the simple step of belting up every time they got in a car. That’s why we run hard-hitting campaigns”