THE EFFECTS OF SEAT BELT LEGISLATION ON ROAD TRAFFIC INJURIES

The compulsory wearing of seat belts, first introduced in the world in Victoria in 1970, has effectively reduced the number of deaths and injuries by approximately one-third for car occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes. Initially, the legislation did not apply to children under the age of eight years, but in 1975 a further law was introduced banning children from the front seat of any vehicle unless properly harnessed. Seat belts offer the best protection for front seat drivers and passengers involved in frontal impacts, but offer less protection to the recipient of a side impact. Ten per cent of car occupants admitted to hospital after a frontal impact show injuries, mostly minor, directly attributable to the wearing of seat belts (A). (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

  147 MacQuarie Street
  Sydney, New South Wales,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • TRINCA, G W
  • Dooley, B J
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 150-155
• Serial:
  • Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Children; Crashes; Frontal crashes; Injuries; Injury severity; Laws; Legislation; Manual safety belts; Seats; Side crashes; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases; Front; Severity; Use
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 1758: Child; 1631: Collision; 9009: Decrease; 9025: Front; 2163: Injury; 1556: Legislation; 1476: Safety belt; 1388: Seat (veh); 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 1630: Side impact; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00342267
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM