2008 marks the 25^th anniversary of seatbelt wearing laws in the UK. Seatbelts have prevented an estimated 60,000 deaths and 670,000 serious injuries since 31 January 1983, when seatbelts were made mandatory for drivers and front seat passengers.

All passengers are now being reminded to belt up in the back as well as the front. There are up to 15 drivers and front seat passengers killed each year by the impact of an unbelted rear seat passenger.

Seatbelt facts:

• 75 % of passengers thrown from a car die. Unbelted occupants are 30 times more likely to be thrown from a car.
• In a crash at 30mph, if unrestrained, you will be thrown forward with a force up to 60 times your own bodyweight.
• Some safety features you paid for in your car were designed with the assumption you are wearing a belt, e.g. crumple zones and air bags won't save you without a seatbelt .
• Once one person puts his or her seatbelt on, everyone else in the car is more likely to do so.

Ireland introduced mandatory seatbelts for drivers and front seat passengers in 1979, and in 1992 for back seat passengers.