Wearing a seat belt is now widely accepted, as shown by our recent study on driving behaviour, with 96% of drivers using them systematically in urban areas and 97% outside urban areas.
However, it has been a long journey. The first idea for a seat belt dates back to the early 19th century, with a harness designed by George Cayley, a pioneer in aeronautics. The first official patent for a car seat belt was filed in 1885 by Edward J. Claghorn in New York, mainly for taxis.
However, the modern three-point seat belt as we know it today was invented in 1959 by Nils Bohlin, a Swedish engineer working for Volvo. He installed it in the Volvo PV544 and, for the first time in series production, in the Volvo Amazon, a model produced in 667,323 units in several factories around the world, including Gothenburg, Ghent, Halifax and Durban. (It was replaced by the Volvo 140 series from 1970 onwards.) The Swedish manufacturer then made the patent royalty-free to promote road safety worldwide.
Luxembourgers, already good students
It was not until the 1970s that the wearing of seat belts became compulsory. In Europe, the wearing of seat belts in the front seats outside built-up areas was gradually introduced in the 1970s. In France, for example, it became compulsory in the front in 1973, then in towns in 1979, and finally in the rear in 1990.
In Luxembourg, seat belts became compulsory in the front in July 1975, then in the rear in 1992, in line with changes to European directives.
In the 4 July 1975 edition of the Luxemburger Wort newspaper, an article pointed out that, long before seat belts became compulsory in Luxembourg, many responsible drivers already wore them as a matter of common sense. The article states that, since the requirement came into force, Luxembourg motorists have generally accepted the measure without significant opposition, despite the fact that it is perceived as ‘an infringement of individual freedom’. In fact, it was not uncommon to see seat belts highlighted as an option in car advertisements at the time, such as this advertisement for a Mercedes 250 SE automatic in the newspaper on 10 July 1975.
Above all, however, the article already pointed to the lack of consistency at international and European level. According to the article, the compulsory wearing of seat belts created a certain amount of confusion due to differences in legislation between countries, such as speed limits and studded tyres. To help motorists navigate these rules, the International Touring Alliance and the National Automobile Federation published a six-page document summarising the rules in force in each country.
It states that the European countries where seat belts are compulsory for drivers, including Luxembourg nationals driving abroad, are: Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Czechoslovakia.
This confusion is understandable. For example, in Germany, although wearing a seat belt became compulsory in the front seats for drivers and passengers in 1976, the law did not impose penalties for not wearing a seat belt. It was not until 1979 that the legislation was strengthened with the introduction of fines for non-compliance. It should also be noted that the journalist’s source at the time was already the Automobile Club of Luxembourg.
Seat belts and safety, a debate at the time
‘Seat belts, a fig leaf for the shortcomings of the Highway Code,’ read the Luxembourg magazine Auto-Revue in June-July 1975. The editorialist at the time wrote: “One might suspect that the compulsory wearing of seat belts serves as an excuse for neglecting to take less costly and more effective measures, as in other countries where seat belts are not compulsory. Even when compulsory, seat belts are not an effective protection against drink-driving. We are convinced that, in our country, we are taking the easy way out in terms of road safety policy with drastic speed limits and compulsory seat belt use. Many people rightly believe that seat belts are even dangerous without headrests. Statistics show numerous cases of fatal neck fractures (whiplash). It is also ridiculous and contradictory that the Highway Code requires front seat passengers to wear seat belts but allows pets to travel in the front seats, and that you have to wear a seat belt but can smoke while driving in built-up areas or even when manoeuvring.
It is therefore understandable that road safety policy was already a topical issue, as the editorial in question criticised the compulsory wearing of seat belts, describing it as a symbolic measure masking inaction on other road safety issues. The author thus questioned (wrongly) its real effectiveness, particularly in the absence of equipment such as headrests, and denounced the inconsistencies of the Highway Code in an ironic and provocative tone.
A fine of €145 and two points deducted from your driving licence
Today, according to several studies, seat belts reduce the risk of death in an accident by 40 to 50%. At 50 km/h, the force required to restrain a 75 kg body is 2.5 tonnes: a shock equivalent to a fall from the third floor! The seat belt can withstand a force of over 3 tonnes, while the muscles in the arms can only support around 25 kg.
As a reminder, not wearing a seat belt is punishable by a fine in all European Union countries. As a reminder, in Luxembourg, not wearing a seat belt is punishable by a fine of €145 and two points on your licence for the following offences:
• Failure by the driver of a motor vehicle to wear a seat belt in accordance with the regulations.
• Transporting a child under the age of 3 in a motor vehicle (…) other than in an approved child restraint system.
• Transporting a child aged between 3 and 17 years of age who is less than 150 cm tall in a motor vehicle (…) other than in an approved child restraint system.
