New EU legislation needs to be passed to make seatbelt reminders mandatory in new cars, a Brussels-based road safety group has said.
Seatbelt reminders sound an alarm and illuminate a warning light if a driver or passenger has not belted up when a car starts. It is estimated that reminder devices can ensure almost total compliance with seatbelt laws and therefore radically reduce road deaths.
According to the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) 56 per cent of new cars sold in the European Union last year were fitted with such devices for the driver seat. In a new index of best performers in the area, published today, Sweden, Luxembourg and Germany come out top.
Almost 70 per cent of new passenger cars sold in Sweden last year were fitted with seatbelt reminders for the driver, according to the ETSC index. In Luxembourg the figure was 64 per cent and in Germany 63 per cent. The Czech Republic was worst with only 30 per cent of new cars sold there last year having the devices to remind drivers to belt up. Slovakia (34 per cent), Hungary (44 per cent), Poland (44 per cent), Lithuania (45 per cent), Italy (46 per cent) and Greece (46 per cent) also performed badly.
Ireland was slightly below the average with 54 per cent of new cars sold here last year having seatbelt reminders for drivers.
The ETSC points out that the proportion of seat belt reminder devices fitted to new cars has increased since its research was carried out last year. Top-selling models such as the Peugeot 206, Opel Corsa, Fiat, Punto and Renault Clio are now fitted with seatbelt reminders for the driver seat. The latest Honda Civic has reminders fitted for all seats.
In Japan, legislation came into force in September 2005 requiring all new car models to be equipped with advanced seatbelt reminders for the driver seat at least.
ETSC Executive Director said that the Euro NCAP safety rating provided "a great incentive for manufacturers to install seatbelt reminders on the best-sold models in Europe.
"But to reach also the upper and lower priced segments of the market, we need EU legislation mandating seatbelt reminders in all new cars," he added.
The ETSC urged governments to take action on a national level by providing incentives, such as tax breaks, to those buying cars with seatbelt reminders fitted.
The safety body said in new research carried out in Brussels, cars equipped with seatbelt reminders saw wearing rates of 93 per cent, compared to 70 per cent in cars not fitted with them.
