COMPULSORY SEAT BELTS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 3

COMPULSORY SEAT BELTS

Auckland A.A. Opposed (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Sept. 9. The Auckland Automobile Association would be extremely disappointed to see the Minister of Transport move to have the Installation of seat belts in cars made compulsory, said the secretary (Mr D. L. Perry) this evening. He was commenting on a statement by the Minister that he was considering making it compulsory for motorists to install belts. Mr Perry said his association had no argument with the Minister’s promotion of the use of safety belts. The association had fitted them in its fleet of vehicles and recommended their use to members. But, he said, his council recognised that motorists were far from unanimous on whether the belts were a useful safety measure. For this reason his association felt individual motorists should be left to make up their own minds. “Seat belts cannot be effective unless they are worn regularly,” Mr Perry said, “and we feel this is where the idea of compulsory installation falls down. ■ “Unless there is legislation to make the wearing, as well as the installation, compulsory, and unless this legislation can be adequately policed, there seems little point in it.”