Seatbelts
Background
Wearing a
seat belt is one of easiest ways of protecting drivers and
passengers when travelling in a vehicle. In 2008 almost on third of
regional road fatalities were not wearing a seat belt. Seat belts
prevent vehicle occupants from being ejected from a vehicle, they
reduce the time taken to come to a stop in a crash (hence reducing
impact forces), spread the impact force over a greater area of the
body and minimise contact of occupants with a vehicle's interior.
Drivers and passengers travelling unrestrained in a car are
eighteen times more likely to be killed in a road crash than those
wearing a seatbelt.
The facts
In 2008, 33% of serious injuries
when not wearing a seatbelt were in the Metropolitan region, which
contains 73% of the states population. Whereas in the
Kimberley, there was 9% of the states serious injuries when not
wearing a seatbelt, however this region contained less than 2% of
the states population. Of those vehicle occupants killed in
road crashes in the ten years to 2004 who were found not to be
wearing a seatbelt, 66% were males and 34% were females. In
addition to this 48% of children and adolescents (6-16 years)
killed in a car crash, were found not to be wearing a seatbelt.
Community Attitudes
In a 2006 survey of road safety
attitudesm 93% of rural males aged 17-59 years considered driving
without a restraint a morally unacceptable behaviour. Despite
that 16% of drivers readily admit occasionally or regularly
non-wearing over the past 6 months.
In the same survey, 34% of rural
males aged 17-59 years believed that an unexpected event occurring
on the road that may result in a crash was 'unlikely' and 87%
considered the risk of detection for non-restraint use was
'unlikely'.
Seatbelts and the Law
In 2007 fines for not wearing a
seatbelt increased from $200 for a first offence to $500 for
drivers and passengers. Demerit points for drivers rose from
three points to four points and there is now more of an obligation
for drivers to make sure their passengers are
restrained. More information on seatbelts and the road
rules visit either the WA Police or the Road Safety Council
Seatbelts save lives on farms TOO!
Don't wait till you're at the front
gate to put your seatbelt on. Click
here for more more information on seatbelts on farms.
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