Campaign aims at young men

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 11

Campaign aims at young men

PA Hamilton Young men who think wearing a car seat belt does not go with their “macho” image are the target of a Ministry of Transport safety campaign launched on Monday. The seat-belt campaign, based on the theme of “only a dummy doesn’t belt up,” is designed to encourage the high risk male group to secure themselves safely.

Research on the attitude of non-belt wearers has shown that 61 per cent are male and in the 15 to 24 age age-group.

They gave a variety of reasons for not wearing belts including, “I don’t like my mates to think I’m soft

or scared,” and “I trust my own driving so do not need a seat belt.”

An analysis of fatal accidents from January 1 to September 30 this year revealed that 40 lives might have been saved if seat belts had been worn.

Recent seat-belt surveys indicate that front seat belt usage rates are only about 75 per cent. In the rear seat, only 24 per cent of passengers with seat belts available were wearing them properly.

This means people are not clear about the law, the Ministry says. It is a legal requirement, to wear seat belts in every seating position in a vehicle where seat belts are fitted.