It is 20 years since the law was first introduced forcing people to use seat belts when driving.

At first it applied only to drivers and their front-seat passengers. Later, it was extended to cover people sitting in the back as well.

There were widespread protests at first by people saying the seat belt law infringed the liberty of motorists.

But the figures speak for themselves. During that time about 8,000 people have had their lives saved through the use of seat belts.

Although the number of cars continues to increase, the death rate on Britain's roads is one of the lowest in the West.

It is half the rate it was in the Fifties and only a third of what it was during the black out in the Second World War. Seat belts have undoubtedly helped.

Unfortunately, there is now a growing tendency among some drivers, many of them young, to ignore the seat belt law for all sorts of reasons.

Some youngsters think wearing belts is not cool and others are concerned belts crease their clothes.

They should take a look at our report today, which recounts the experiences of those involved in serious road accidents.

It may not be all that cool to wear a seat belt but it's much better than being dead.