The use of safety belts and their effect in accidents : 1987 amendment to the Safety Belt Act and the use of safety belts : accidents resulting in fatalities during the years 1985-1989.

On 1st November 1987, the compulsory use of safety belts was extended to cover passengers in the back seats of private cars as well as van drivers and accompanying passengers. The results are presented of follow-up surveys on safety belt use carried out by Central Organization for Traffic Safety in Finland and the Mobile Police in connection with the amendment to the law. It was also tried to determine the effect of safety belt use on personal injuries to persons on the basis of accidents resulting in fatalities which were studied by road accident investigation teams between 1985 and 1989.