seatbelts

Victoria was first, 1964. May even have been the first in the world. Immediately the annual number of road deaths dropped from around 1000 to the 300s and the other states followed.

Not sure what year they became compulsory but I had a HD 1965 Holden ute that did not have them and later a HR 1968 panel van that did. I think the compulsory wearing started in the early 70's

Arrrrrrrrrrrr the old pv

Cheers ob

There are two issues - one being the ADR (or equivalent) that required new vehicles to be fitted with seatbelts. AS I understand, seatbelts were required in the front seats initially, and then later in all seats. As far as I know, ADRs are not retrospective (ie. only apply to new cars sold after the date of implementation).

The second issue is the one about having to wear seatbelts where the law states that where seatbelts are fitted, they must be used.

So, what that all means is that if you have an old car that was sold prior to seatbelts being required, you could still drive it legally (although not safely!) without having to wear a seatbelt - unless of course you had one fitted.

My Dad had a VW Type 3 which only came with seat belts in the front seats. Even though it wasn't a legal requirement he installed seat belts in the rear seat. Once they were fitted, they then had to be used (ie. you couldn't choose not to wear it on the argument that the car didn't originally have them).

This also means that when you're a passenger on a bus/coach, if that bus/coach has a seatbelt on the seat you're in, you must wear it, even though it is not compulsory for buses/coaches to have seatbelts fitted. Police can, will and do fine passengers of coaches for not wearing their seatbelts.

As for what year those laws were introduced, I can't help you mate - it was all before my time! :-) But I do know that the seatbelt has been said to have saved more lives than any other safety feature.

Trying to remember when it became complusory fo rnew vehicles across Oz by the ADRs.

69 XT ford and they were optional (as was the heater demister), while my 73 beetle had them as standard.

About 1970?

Lug,

I'm 48 and can't remember them in the Old Man's EH (64).

Pretty sure the HK and HT (69 and 70) had them fitted to front seats only.

I do recall the HQ (72 model) had them in all seats.

Jim.

Some of you will hate to hear this but Volvo were the first to fit "sash only" seat belts in, I think, 1962 in the 122 series cars and followed that soon after with "lap/sash" belts. An employee of Volvo was the inventor of the things and thank god for that. I fitted after market Britax lap/sash to my Mum's Fiat 600D in about 1964.
Ian (owner of a total 17 Volvos since 1971 and never a "lemon".

I think Volvo introduced 3 way seat belts from 1959. Vic and SA made it mandatory for them to be fitted in the front 2 seats of new cars from 1964 and Vic was the first place worldwide to make wearing them compulsory from 1970 after the "1024" campaign across vic when 1024 people died.

1970 was when the started top campaign and 1972/73 they made it compulsory for all new vehicles except heavy vehicles to be fitted at the factory or dealership.