Horrific X-rays show impact not wearing a seatbelt during car crash actually has

Let's be honest, how many of us have jumped in the car for a short journey and wondered whether or not it's worth putting a seatbelt on?

Or maybe we've been on a long, cross-country car journey and feel like ducking under the shoulder belt in order to get more comfortable – perhaps we might even put our feet up on the dashboard to stretch them out?

While these behaviours aren't uncommon, they are heavily discouraged, and for a very good reason, as statistics reveal that you're twice as likely to die in a car accident if you're not buckled in.

If that alone isn't enough to scare you straight, then perhaps it's worth looking at the various X-ray scans showing the injuries sustained by people who weren't wearing a seatbelt during a car crash.

According to statistics, you're twice as likely to die in a car accident if not wearing a seatbelt (Getty Stock Images)

What happens to you if you're not wearing a seatbelt during a car accident?

An image recently posted to Reddit revealed the X-ray scans of three people involved in a car accident, all of whom weren't wearing a seatbelt.

And as you can imagine, the injuries weren't pleasant.

As well as not wearing a seatbelt, the crash victims had been sitting in a range of different positions.

One person had been sitting normally in the car, resulting in a gnarly double fracture to one of their legs, while the other person had their legs crossed, resulting in two broken thigh bones.

However, the third person had not only decided against a seatbelt but also put their leg up on the dashboard, which resulted in a completely mangled leg.

That's me never putting my feet up on a dashboard again...

That's me never putting a foot on the dashboard ever again (Reddit)

These grim X-ray images aren't the only ones floating around online either, as another post shared in the Radiology subreddit detailed the extensive injuries sustained by a driver who wasn't wearing a seatbelt during a head-on collision.

"Even if you're a back seat passenger, even if it's for a short ride, please wear your seat belt," read one person's reaction, while a second added: "I can't imagine driving or being a passenger without one."

Meanwhile, another thread revealed the extensive injuries caused to a driver who involved in a crash while not wearing a seatbelt (Reddit)

What are the laws around wearing a seatbelt in the UK?

Given the gruesome injuries which can occur from not wearing a seatbelt, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's illegal to be inside a moving car - either as the driver or passenger - and not wear a seatbelt.

If you're pulled over by police and caught without your seatbelt on, expect to be handed a fine of up to £500.

It's not like you can claim to forget wearing a seatbelt in most modern cars anyway, as there is usually an alarm which blares at you until you buckle up.