Basingstoke Town FC will swap their traditional vertical stripes for a “seatbelt” design in their final match of the season.

It is the launching of a campaign to raise awareness of seatbelt safety among young drivers and passengers.

Belt up

In a move to highlight the dangers of not wearing seatbelts, Basingstoke Town FC is teaming up with The AA Charitable Trust to launch a striking new initiative.

During their last match of the season on April 26 against Merthyr Town FC, players will wear specially designed kits where the usual vertical stripes are replaced with diagonal “seatbelt” graphics across the chest, mimicking the protective restraint worn in vehicles.

The campaign, supported by The Overlap podcast hosted by Gary Neville and featuring football legend Ian Wright, is aimed at encouraging consistent seatbelt use,

This is especially aimed at younger drivers and passengers, who are disproportionately affected in road accidents.

Wright, voicing support for the initiative, said: “Wearing a seatbelt is the simplest thing you can do to protect yourself when you’re in a car, no matter if you’re driving or getting a lift. It reduces the risk of death in a crash by 50 per cent.”

Crowd support

Alongside the kit switch, the campaign will include a full stadium takeover with branded messaging across perimeter boards, matchday materials, car park flags, beermats, and napkins, all urging fans to “Buckle Up.”

According to new research by The AA Charitable Trust, nearly half (43%) of young passengers aged 17–29 who die in road crashes were not wearing seatbelts.

Moreover, 14% of new and learner drivers admit they’re less likely to wear a seatbelt on short journeys as a passenger, while 7.6% say the same as drivers.

Playing the game

AA Charitable Trust Director Edmund King warned of a “stubborn minority” of drivers who would skip wearing a seatbelt if they knew they wouldn’t be caught.

“Even on short journeys, like the ones many fans make every weekend, it is absolutely vital to wear your seatbelt. Doing so halves your risk of dying in a crash,” King said.

The campaign also highlights concerning attitudes among young drivers.

One in twenty (5%) of those aged 18–24 said they would travel without a seatbelt in the backseat if there was no chance of enforcement—higher than the 3% average across all age groups.

Worryingly, 47% of young drivers also said they would still travel in a vehicle that had no seatbelt available.

The campaign

The problem: Almost half (43%) of young passengers (17-29) who die in car crashes are not belted.

The Campaign: We have convinced Basingstoke FC (home of AA HQ) to change their shirt for the last game of the season – changing their vertical stripes to a stripe denoting a seatbelt.

Importance to football: Academy players fall into the target age group and are more at risk due to faster cars. Also relevant to fans.

National amplification: Ian Wright will talk about it on the Overlap Podcast later this week.

 

The simple pass

Basingstoke Town FC Chairman Jack Miller called the initiative “a striking reminder of a simple action that saves lives,” and noted that both the men’s and women’s teams would wear the seatbelt-themed kits.

“Hopefully, it sparks conversations and makes a lasting impact.”

The campaign comes amid ongoing concern about road safety.

In 2022, 1,711 people were killed on UK roads, and failure to wear a seatbelt was a contributing factor in a significant portion of fatalities.

The AA Trust is advocating for tougher penalties, including six penalty points for new drivers caught not wearing seatbelts.

After the match, the campaign will expand, with the Trust contacting other football clubs and academies to spread the life-saving message across the sporting world.