THE driver of the coach involved in today's crash told passengers to put on their seatbelts at the start of the journey.
But under Government regulations, it is the duty of individual passengers aged 14 and above, not of the coach firm, to ensure the belts are fastened.
Rules requiring children aged 3-13 to use seatbelts in buses and coaches are still to be brought forward by the Government, and won't include any obligation to provide child restraints.
Simon Posner, director general of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: "I have spoken to National Express and they have told me the driver had told passengers they should put on seatbelts."
The obligation to tell passengers that seatbelt wearing is compulsory has been in place since September.
Coaches first used on or after October 2001, must have seat belts.
Despite today's accident, coach travel remains the UK's safest form of road travel.
Latest figures show the number of fatalities per one billion kilometres is 17 for buses and coaches, 37 for cars and 1500 for motorcycles.
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