In June 1973 the Nordic road safety council issued a report (no 2 bilbelter) on the problems related to legislation concerning compulsory use of seat belts. The work was performed by a special working group with representatives from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. A great number of authorities, organizations and other institutions in these countries were invited to comment on this first report. The working group has discussed the comments and its considerations, also accepted by the Nordic road safety council, are expressed in this final report. The working group finds that all the essential proposals in the previous report should be maintained. This implies that compulsory use of seat belts is proposed for all vehicle seats where a seat belt is installed, regardless of whether the seat belt installation was required or made voluntarily. Deviating from its previous deliberations, the working group now proposes that special exceptions may be allowed for low- speed distribution traffic when the driver frequently leaves and enters the vehicle.
Abstract