XN000022-1983-07-31 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 1983

SEAT BELT GOOD SAFETY FACTOR

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FROM OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, DRIVERS AND FRONT-SEAT PASSENGERS IN PRIVATE VEHICLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT STUDIES SHOWED A VERY LOW USAGE OF SEAT BELTS AT PRESENT,

OBSERVATION AT 14 PLACES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG GAVE USAGE RATES RANGING FROM 4.12 PER CENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO 7.32 PER CENT AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.

+THESE RATES, TOGETHER WITH THE ACTUAL ACCIDENT RECORDS OF BOTH BELTED AND UNBELTED PRIVATE CAR FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS, WERE USED TO ASSESS THE CASUALTY RATES FOR BOTH CATEGORIES,+ HE SAID.

+ THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE CHANCE OF A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT OF BEING SERIOUSLY OR FATALLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT IS 3.3 PER CENT FOR A BELTED OCCUPANT, COMPARED WITH 8.7 PER CENT FOR AN UNBELTED ONE.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUCH FINDINGS WERE FULLY SUPPORTED BY EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

IN BRITAIN, THE WEARING OF SEAT BELTS HAS BEEN COMPULSORY SINCE JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR AND THE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC.

IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AREA AROUND BIRMINGHAM AND COVENTRY THERE WAS A 22 PER CENT FALL IN ROAD CASUALTIES DURING THE FIRST MONTH ALONE.

GOVERNMENT VEHICLE USERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SET AN EXAMPLE, AND, FROM JULY 1, ALL DRIVERS AND FRONT-SEAT PASSENGERS IN GOVERNMENT VEHICLES FITTED WITH BELTS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO WEAR THEM.

THE NEW LAW, WHICH COMES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER, STATES THAT SEAT BELTS MUST BE WORN BY DRIVERS OR FRONT-SEAT PASSENGERS OF ALL CARS, OR DUAL-PURPOSE LIGHT VANS REGISTERED AS PRIVATE CARS.

FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN A FINE OF UP TO $500 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS ON FIRST CONVICTION, OR A FINE OF $1 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS ON ANY SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION.

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