Wearing a correctly adjusted seatbelt is one of the simplest ways of reducing the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash.

This is true whether you are sitting in the front seat or the back seat, and is the reason Australia has compulsory seatbelt wearing laws.

Many lives have been saved and serious injuries reduced as a result of these laws, which require drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts if they are fitted to a vehicle. There are also regulations, called vehicle standards, which set out the requirements for vehicles to be fitted with seatbelts.
 
Your seatbelt protects you by:

• reducing the risk that you will be thrown out of a vehicle 
• holding you in the position where you receive the most benefit from protective devices such as airbags
• reducing the risk that you will be thrown around and injure yourself and other occupants of the vehicle
• reducing the likelihood of hitting other objects within the vehicle such as the back windscreen, front seats and light fixtures.

How do seatbelts work?

Seatbelts are designed to minimise injury by transferring the force of a crash away from more vulnerable parts of your body such as your stomach and thighs, to areas that are better able to provide resistance, like your pelvis and sternum.

To do this most effectively, however, your seatbelt must be adjusted correctly and not be damaged in any way.

How to adjust your seatbelt
Adjust your seatbelt so that:

• the lap belt fits snugly across your pelvis, under your stomach and above your thighs
• the sash crosses your chest diagonally, sits across your shoulder and does not rub against your neck or upper arm. Many cars allow you to adjust the shoulder strap height.
• the buckle is at the side of the seat, not resting against your leg.

Also make sure that:

• no part of the seatbelt is twisted
• the sash is not slack; remove any slack by pulling firmly on the sash after the buckle has been fastened.

How to maintain your seatbelts
Keeping your seatbelts in good working order is as important as any other aspect of vehicle maintenance. On a regular basis, check the:

• seatbelt material is not frayed or worn
• seatbelts are not twisted
• buckles engage and release properly
• seatbelt retractors work well, that is, the seatbelts pull out smoothly and retract completely when not in use
• seatbelt warning device (if fitted) is working.

Who is responsible for wearing seatbelts?
If you are the driver, before you drive off you are responsible for ensuring:

• your own seatbelt is properly adjusted and fastened, and 
• every adult passenger is seated in a position fitted with a seatbelt and that their seatbelt is properly adjusted and fastened

Passengers under 16 years of age are restrained as follows:

• A child under 12 months must be restrained in a suitable approved child restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted.
• A child aged between 12 months and under 16 years should be restrained in a suitable approved child restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted, or occupy a seating position fitted with a suitable seatbelt and wear the seatbelt properly fastened and adjusted.
• A child under four years of age must not ride in the front row of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats.

The type of child restraint that is suitable varies according to a child’s size and weight. For detailed information about choosing child restraints, consult the VicRoads brochure Choosing and Using Restraints (see ‘Resources’).

When buying any child restraint, make sure it is certified as meeting the relevant Australian Standard.

It is safer for children to travel in the back seat.

If you are a passenger over 16 years of age make sure your own restraint is properly adjusted and fastened. You must occupy a seating position fitted with a seatbelt, if there is one available.

If you are travelling on a bus or coach where seatbelts are provided, you and any companions must buckle up.

If you are driving a truck you are legally required to wear a seatbelt where one is provided.

If you are buying a new or second hand car, look for models that have a seatbelt reminder system (an audible ‘beep’ as well as a flashing light) for the front and rear seats.

Seatbelt myths
Some people believe they don’t have to wear seatbelts. 

Pregnant women should not wear seatbelts. Wrong!

If you are pregnant, wearing a seatbelt will protect you and your baby. The only exception is if you have a letter from your doctor stating you should not wear a seatbelt for medical reasons.

Older drivers should not wear seatbelts. Wrong!

Because they may be physically frail, it is even more important for older drivers to wear seatbelts. If you have difficulty managing your seatbelt because of physical problems, consult an occupational therapist for assistance. A seatbelt positioning device may help.

Seatbelt laws
By law, every person travelling in a passenger vehicle must wear a seatbelt if it is fitted.

There are tough penalties for those who break the law:

• driver not wearing seatbelt - 2 penalty units* and 3 demerit points
• driver failing to ensure a passenger 16 and older wears a seatbelt - driver fined 2 penalty units and 3 demerit points
• driver failing to ensure a passenger under 16 wears a seatbelt - driver fined 2.25 penalty units and 3 demerit points
• passenger over 16 not wearing seatbelt - passenger fined two penalty units*
  *In 2011-12, one penalty unit is $122.14. See the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Council website for the yearly value of penalty units.

Exemptions
There are some circumstances in which a person may be exempt from wearing a seatbelt, such as when the driver is reversing the vehicle, or is engaged in the door-to-door delivery or collection of goods or garbage and is travelling under 25 km/h.

Resources

Websites
The TAC’s website www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au provides detailed information on crash performance ratings for new and used cars, including specific vehicle safety information for various road user groups.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) website www.ancap.com.au has crash test results and occupant protection ratings for new vehicles.

The RACV’s website www.racv.com.au includes information on road safety for children and seniors, car safety, and new and used car safety ratings.

Publications
Choosing and Using Restraints – A guide for parents with children from birth to 16 years (VicRoads, August 2002)
A Simple Guide to Child Restraints (ATSB, 2007)
Guide to Occupational Therapy Driver Assessment (VicRoads, 2007)
Restraint Fitting Stations (VicRoads, 2001)
Victorian Older Drivers’ Handbook 6th edition (pages 54 and 55) (VicRoads, 2006)
Vehicle Standards Information No 15 – Adding seatbelts
Vehicle Standards Information No 17 – Child restraint anchorages
Vehicle Standards Information No 19 – Adding seats
Vehicle Standards Information No 21 – Seatbelts

These publications are available free from VicRoads Bookshop:

• order online via the the online bookshop
• by phone (03) 9854 2782
• by fax (03) 9854 2468

These publications are also available from VicRoads Customer Service Centres.