The theory of accident compensation and the introduction of compulsory seat belt legislation in New South Wales.

Author(s)
Hampson, G.
Year
Abstract

THE EFFECT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY SEAT BELT LEGISLATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES IN 1971 IS EXAMINED. A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN BOTH TOTAL FATALITIES AND OCCUPANT FATALITIES IS REPORTED, AS WELL AS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN NON- OCCUPANT FATALITIES. THIS INCREASE IN NON-OCCUPANT FATALITIES IS EXAMINED AND IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IT IS DUE TO THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF MOTORCYCLES FROM THE MID 1960S. THE EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ACCIDENT COMPENSATION VIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPULSORY SEAT BELT LEGISLATION, AND IT IS ARGUED THAT THIS IS BECAUSE PERCEIVED RISK DOES NOT ACCURATELY CORRESPOND TO ACTUAL RISK. IF ACTUAL RISK IS A COMBINATION OF THE RISK OF A CRASH AND THE RISK OF A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH GIVEN THAT A CRASH OCCURS, THEN PERCEIVED RISK IS BIASED TOWARD THE RISK OF A CRASH. SEAT BELT LEGISLATION DOES NOT AFFECT A DRIVER'S RISK OF CRASHING AND THEREFORE PERCEIVED RISK DOES NOT DECREASE, AND COMPENSATION SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED (A). THE NUMBER OF THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE IS IRRD NO 255423.

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Publication

Library number
C 51408 (In: B 23527 [electronic version only]) /83 / IRRD 255490
Source

In: Proceedings of the 11th Conference of the Australian Road Research Board, Melbourne, August 23-27, 1982. Volume 11, Part 5, p. 135-40 (2 Figs.; 3 Tbls.; 11 Refs.)

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This publication is one of our other publications, and part of our extensive collection of road safety literature, that also includes the SWOV publications.