The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is reminding all drivers that it is against the law to travel without wearing a seat belt and this is the case for good reason.

Figures published by the Department for Transport showed that of the 232 car occupants killed in accidents on the UK's roads in 2013, almost one-fifth (19 per cent) were shown to have not been wearing a seat belt.

Moreover, research carried out by Safer Roads revealed as many as 2,000 people every year are saved from suffering serious or life-threatening injuries as a result of buckling up.

Overall, the organisation's data showed that front seat passengers are 45 per cent less likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries when involved in an accident if they have worn a seat belt. At the same time, the chances of suffering a minor injury are reduced by 20 per cent.

Responding to the statistics, IAM head of road safety Kevin Delaney argued people therefore need to understand that wearing a seat belt could be the one thing that makes the difference to walking away from an accident and never walking again.

He added that in many cases, people do not belt up simply because they feel an accident is something that will never happen to them, but it is this kind of attitude that now needs to be stamped out.

"The trouble is if people are not wearing a seat belt and find themselves heading towards an accident, it is far too late to do anything about it," Mr Delaney concluded.

"We need to keep spreading the message particularly on rear seat belt use. And if people don't take heed of it, they will end up as a Department of Transport accident statistic."