The compulsory wearing of seatbelts in the UK is celebrating 40 year landmark. The law came into force on the UK’s roads on 31st January 1983.

Long and winding road

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.

Soon after the law came into effect in 1983, 90% of car drivers and front-seat passengers were observed to be wearing seat belts. These high rates of seat belt wearing in front-seats of cars have been sustained since that time.

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.

The current fine for not wearing a seatbelt is £100.

Safe and secure

Edmund King, AA Charitable Trust director, said: “The humble seatbelt is arguably one of the greatest road safety inventions, but they are pointless unless people wear them.

“The introduction of a legal requirement for drivers and all front seat passengers to belt up has saved innumerable lives over the last 40 years.

“It’s not a case of job done though. The latest crash statistics show not wearing a seatbelt contributed to a third of car deaths. It is needless for anyone to lose their life this way and more needs to be done to ensure people use their seatbelts.

“A fine for not wearing a seatbelt simply isn’t enough and we will continue to push for greater government focus on what interventions can be usefully instigated to ensure improved compliance with this life-saving law.

“This could include penalty points for all legal-age car occupants caught not wearing a seatbelt.”

Unfortunately, according to official statistics, the number of car occupant fatalities not wearing a seatbelt is now 30%. This is up from 19% in 2013.

Missing the point

Parliament Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is also calling for points to be introduced. This, they believe, is necessary to change the attitudes and behaviours of the “forgetful or reckless minority” who fail to wear a seat belt.

This is despite the fact that most drivers and passengers now comply without a second thought.

An observation survey, carried out by the Government in the autumn of 2021, found just under 95% of drivers (in all vehicle types) were wearing a seatbelt.

PACTS says for many drivers the relatively small fine is no deterrent. They add that much stiffer penalties are set for mobile phones, speeding or drink driving. The current penalty fails to convey the safety importance of belting up.

PACTS president Barry Sheerman MP has tabled a bill to make failure to wear a seat belt an endorsable offence. He hopes to present this in the Commons today (31 January).

David Davies, PACTS executive director, says: “30% of people who died in cars in 2021 were not wearing a seat belt – some 200 men, women, and children. A seat belt halves the chance of death in a crash – but only if you wear it.

“If the Government is serious about reducing deaths on the road, then stiffer penalties must be introduced to change the attitudes and behaviours of this forgetful or reckless minority.

“PACTS is calling for a package of measures and penalty points are essential.”

Swedish safety

On July 10 1962 the United States Patent Office granted Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin a patent for his three-point seatbelt invention.

Most importantly it was an “open patent” which meant that other manufacturers were free to use the design at no cost. The Swedish brand had already stolen a march on its competitors by using Bohlin’s design for three years. However, they believed that everyone should benefit from its life-saving technology, no matter what car they drive.

Untold numbers of lives have been saved as a result. The technology’s clear safety benefit led to them being fitted, and later worn, as a legal requirement in cars across the globe.

Volvo didn’t stop with seatbelts of course, and its 60 years of car safety innovation have led to a wide range of developments, from rear-facing child seats to side-impact and whiplash protection systems.

Making a PACT

It was 40 years ago that history was made with the UK Parliament passing legislation to make seatbelt wearing compulsory, where fitted, in the front of cars.

It was opposed by the Conservative Government and the Labour Official Opposition. However, on the 28th July 1981, after 13 failed attempts by backbenchers in both Houses, the law was passed. It was the result of years of campaigning by medical and safety organisations.

The campaign also led to the formation of the Parliament Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) in 1982.

On 31 January 1983 the seatbelts wearing law came into force.