In 1970, wearing seat belts in cars became mandatory, though changing public attitudes proved more difficult.
JANUARY 11, 2013 9:56am
Seat belts became mandatory in cars in 1970.
In April, a year later, authorities were still educating people about the safety aspects and benefits of this relatively new device.
Advertisements in The News of 1971 explained what happened to occupants when a car went from 50 m/h (80 km/h) to zero when they were not wearing seat belts.
Using a breakdown of events in tenths of a second, the advertisement, placed by the Victorian Division of the National Safety Council of Australia, explained that you were dead by 7/10 of a second.
Anecdotal research suggests the Goulburn Valley did not have any truly vocal opponents to the legislation, although some may have objected on the basis that the need to ‘‘belt-up’’ impinged on their civil liberties.
Seat belts are now an accepted part of life and although some people are still fined for not wearing them, most now agree they effectively save lives. A view supported by statistics.
By Rob McLean
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