This article discusses the effect of mandatory seat belt use in new south wales, australia. Seat belt legislation was introduced on november 1st, 1971. The early effect of the legislation on deaths among occupants of automobiles has been that the observed number of deaths is 20% below the number to be expected from previously well-established trends. A survey prior to legislation, indicated that the public considered the perceived costs outweighed the benefits to be gained from wearing seat belts. Since legislation people consider that the benefits outweigh the costs. As seat belts have not basically changed, the benefits must appear more attractive. Three factors contributing to the success of the legislation are:- (1) motorists do not wish to pay a fine (2) motorists like to conform, (3) the safety benefits of seat belts have been reinforced. The perceived benefits of seat belt wearing should be kept high in the future but other factors, such as vehicle design, need consideration. This paper was presented at the 17th annual conference of america association of automotive medicine oklahoma city, oklahoma usa, november 1973. The text of the paper was slightly amended in february 1974.
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