Convicted drink-drivers could have “alcolocks” fitted to their cars, preventing the vehicle from starting without the driver passing a breath test, under new road safety plans.

The government is funding a study to investigate how effective the devices would be in stopping reoffending, as part of a package of measures to improve road safety in the face of worsening drink-driving.

Other proposals include more severe penalties for failing to wear a seatbelt, with penalty points that could result in repeat offenders losing their licences.

People without seatbelts are currently given a £100 on-the-spot fine, but the Department for Transport is proposing the tougher laws on the back of figures showing a rising number of fatalities. In 2017, 27% of people who died in crashes were not wearing seatbelts, compared with 21% three years earlier.

A total of 74 actions have been published for consultation by the DfT in an attempt to restore the trend for safer roads, which reversed and flatlined under the coalition government. Road deaths fell sharply during the previous decade but numbers have remained roughly static since 2010.

Guidance on alcolocks, breathalyser-type devices that stop the vehicle operating if its driver has consumed more than the alcohol limit, will be part of a review of drink-driving trends and interventions by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts). The devices are commonplace in Europe, particularly for operators of commercial and passenger vehicles, and National Express fitted them to their coach fleet some years ago.

The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said: “The UK has some of the safest roads in the world but we are not complacent and continue to look at how we can make them safer.”

The road safety minister, Michael Ellis, said: “Far too many people are not wearing a seatbelt while traveling in a car, needlessly putting their lives at risk. Increasing penalties for people who disregard the simplest of way of protecting themselves is just one of a long list of actions this government is taking to help keep people safe on our roads.”

An advisory panel will also be set up to explore how to boost road safety on rural roads, while campaigns will be set up to further educate children about road safety.

The measures come in addition to a trailed possible ban on new drivers taking the wheel at night under a “graduated driver licensing” plan. Insurers welcomed the announcement and urged immediate action. The Association of British Insurers said its “potential to dramatically improve road safety in the UK is indisputable”, adding that there was overwhelming evidence for its effectiveness from places such as Canada, New Zealand and California.