EVALUATION OF THE NEW ZEALAND COMPULSORY SEAT BELT LEGISLATION

Drivers and front seat passengers of light vehicles first registered after 1 January 1965 have been required to wear seat belts since 1 June 1972. This requirement brought about a doubling of wearing rates. Analysis of accident statistics showed a 3% increase in driver and front seat passenger fatalities compared to almost a 40% increase for all other road users. Injury accident data showed a significant reduction in fatal and serious casualties for drivers of post-1965 vehicles. Drivers of post- 1965 vehicles who were involved in accidents were reduced in number by 11% compared with a 20% increase in vehicle registrations. Reports of Traffic Officers confirm that seat belt usage reduces the chances of injury. An analysis of seat belt enforcement shows that the number of offence notices issued has steadily increased as have convictions although not at the same rate. The average fine for a seat belt offence is $8.00.

• Corporate Authors:

  Ministry of Transport, New Zealand

  Road Transport Division, Private Bag
  Wellington,   New Zealand 
• Authors:
  • Toomath, J B
  • Laurenson, C G
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 33 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Drivers; Evaluation; Fatalities; Front seats; Laws; Manual safety belts; Passengers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00142039
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Traffic Res. Rpt. 17
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM