A selection of historic THINK! adverts have been made available online to celebrate 30 years of the seatbelt law. Three decades of compulsory seatbelt use are being marked today as the government made a selection of historic THINK! adverts available online. The law requiring all drivers to wear their seatbelts came in to force 30 years ago today (31 January 2013) – on 31 January 1983.
Car manufacturers have had to install seatbelts since 1965 but the law requiring drivers to wear them did not come in to force for another 18 years. In 1991 the law changed again making it a legal requirement for adults to wear seatbelts in the back of cars. Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said: Thousands of lives have been saved and countless injuries prevented over the years because drivers and passengers were wearing seatbelts.
The combination of effective enforcement and hard-hitting public awareness campaigns mean that, 30 years on, the vast majority of drivers and passengers buckle up when they get in their cars. But, unbelievably, there are still some people who do not use a seatbelt – my message to them is simple: a seatbelt could save your life and not wearing one is just not worth the risk.
When did the wearing of seat belts become compulsory?
Belt up as Road Safety GB takes a look back at the history of seat belt legislation; with 2018 marking 50 years since it became UK law for cars to have seat belts fitted in the driver’s seat. Introduced by the Labour government of the time – led by Harold Wilson – the legislation required manufacturers to fit three-point belts in the front outboard positions on all new cars, and retrospectively fitted to all cars registered from 1965 onwards.
Read: Seat belts – all the key questions answered
Successive Governments proposed, but failed to deliver, further seat belt legislation throughout the 1970s and it wasn’t until 31 January 1983 – 15 years later – that a law requiring all drivers and front seat passengers to wear their seatbelts came into force.
- According to the DfT, shortly after this law came into effect, 90% of car drivers and front seat passengers were observed to be wearing seat belts.
- The law changed again in 1989, making it a legal requirement for children travelling in the back of cars to wear seat belts, followed by another rule change in 1991 which dictated adult passengers must also wear seat belts in the back of cars.
When seatbelt wearing became compulsory for all rear-seat occupants in 1991, there was an immediate increase from 10% to 40% in observed seat belt wearing rates – according to the DfT. Under current legislation, drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt face an on-the-spot fine of £100.
- If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500.
- Drivers are also responsible for making sure passengers under the age of 14 years are wearing a seatbelt.
- The figures Research referenced in the Road Safety Observatory suggests seatbelts are 50% effective at preventing fatal injuries for drivers, 45% effective at preventing serious injuries and 25% effective at preventing minor injuries.
For front seat passengers, seat belts are 45% effective at preventing fatal injuries or serious injuries, and 20% effective at preventing minor injuries. According to RoSPA, since it became mandatory to wear a belt in the front seats in 1983, seat belts are estimated to have saved tens of thousands of lives in Great Britain.
Did cars have seat belts in 1964?
Woodland Hills Personal Injury Attorney Barry P. Goldberg sees all sorts of classic cars on the road in California, but how many do you think have seat belts? Are they required? Believe it or not, older vehicles may not require seat belts in order to legally be driven, but neglecting to update classic cars can come with a price.
- It is our opinion that you should NEVER drive without seatbelts installed in your vehicle.
- Highway Safety Act of 1966 Before 1966, there were no federal laws governing safety equipment in vehicles until the Highway Safety Act of 1966, which required mandatory safety equipment – such as seat belts – installed in most automobiles starting January 1, 1968.
Pre-1966 cars were not required by Federal law to install these safety standards. However, some states regulated safety equipment in vehicles sooner than the federal law. In California, vehicles were required to have seat belts for all seating positions as early as January 1, 1964.
- Under the California Vehicle Code, vehicles older than this date are typically not required to have safety equipment installed in the vehicle. See Cal.
- Vehicle Code § 27315(f) (stating an owner of a motor vehicle need not conform the vehicle to safety belt standards “if it is not required by the laws of the United States applicable to the vehicle at the time of its initial sale.”).
However, under certain circumstances, the California Vehicle Code will require seat belts regardless of a vehicle’s vintage. Driving Passengers Without Seat belts For instance, it is an offense for a parent, legal guardian, or driver to transport a child under the age of 16 on a highway in a motor vehicle without properly securing the child with seatbelts.
Why are there no seatbelts on trains?
For the same reason as heavy trucks don’t. A seatbelt is of most use where a collision causes rapid deceleration. Trains carry so much momentum that they do not stop rapidly, even in very severe collisions.
Are lap seat belts legal in the UK?
With front and rear seat belts a legal requirement for all new cars for 30 years – and legislation dictating that they must be worn since 1991 – wearing a seat belt ought to be human nature to anyone when getting into a car in the UK.
Why dont Australian buses have seatbelts?
Do school buses have seat belts? – No ! School buses don’t have seat belts. However, there are some places of exception: like a few states of the United States. Large school buses are much heavier than small vehicles and light trucks and therefore disperse collision forces accordingly.
Due to these distinctions, bus riders are subjected to far less crash force than passengers in freight vehicles, light trucks, and buses. Hence, buses usually don’t have seat belts. In July 2013, the NSW Government (Australia) announced that seatbelts would be mandatory, and standing would be phased out, on school buses operated in rural and regional areas within 10 years.
So, you know the answer for now. School Bus Seat Belts: Pros
It improves behavior in school bus Provides safety to children Keeps children in place during impact
School Bus Seat Belts: Cons
School buses have excellent safety records. Hence, one is only seen as an expenditure Drivers cannot be expected to police the proper use of seat belts Seat belts can be used as a weapon if a dispute occurs between students Seat belts may be a hindrance in case of events like fire, or an earthquake
Who is exempt from wearing a seatbelt in the UK?
Exemptions – There are some exemptions from wearing a seat belt. There is no legal requirement to wear a seat belt if you’re:
a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing driving a goods vehicle, on deliveries, that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops a licensed taxi driver who is ‘plying for hire’ or carrying passengers
You may be exempted from wearing a seat belt on medical grounds. In such circumstances your doctor may issue a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ if he or she decides that it is not suitable for you to wear a seat belt on medical grounds. This must be produced if the police ask you for it. You can find more details at the link below:
Medical exemptions from wearing a seat belt
Who gets fined for not wearing a seatbelt UK?
You can be fined £500 if a child under 14 years old isn’t in the correct car seat, or, if over 135cm tall, wearing a seatbelt whilst you are driving.
Do dogs need seat belts in cars UK?
Rule 57 – When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.
Do you have to wear a seatbelt in the backseat UK?
You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you’re using – there are only a few exceptions, You’re also only allowed 1 person in each seat fitted with a seat belt. You can be fined up to £500 if you don’t wear a seat belt when you’re supposed to.
