Are seat belts required in older vehicles?
Although it has been compulsory to wear seatbelts in New South Wales since 1971, each year on average there are about 30 drivers and passengers killed and 220 injured who were not wearing available seatbelts. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if seatbelts had been used.
What year were seat belts standard equipment?
Automotive safety reached a turning point in the 1964 model year. That was the year front-seat lap belts became standard equipment in passenger cars. Automakers had seen the writing on the wall – or, rather, on the books.
When did safety belts become standard?
1968
It wasn’t until the late 1950s that an engineer at Volvo devised the three-point seat belt most of us are familiar with today. This new model secured the chest and hips with a single belt. These seatbelts became mandatory in all new United States vehicles in 1968.
Are seat belts standard?
Seat belt standards In general, if a vehicle is required to have a seat belt, then all seat belts which are fitted must meet either the British or European Standards, or equivalents, set out in Regulation 47 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
What year car does not require seat belts?
Cars and trucks built before January 1, 1964 are not required to comply with current seat belt laws if they were not required to do by federal law at the time of the vehicle’s sale, but young children are the exception.
Did cars have seat belts in the 1950s?
Developments in the 1950s In 1950, American automaker Nash emerged with the first factory-installed seat belts in the Statesman and Ambassador models, which consisted of a single belt that stretched across your lap. In 1954, the Sports Car Club of America began requiring competing drivers to wear lap belts.
Are lap belts still legal?
Safety Belts. Seat belts, both the lap belt and shoulder harness, must be in good working order. You may not operate your vehicle unless you and all your passengers 16 years of age or over, or who weigh 60 lbs. or more, are wearing seat belts. If seat belts are not worn, you may be given a traffic ticket.