AUTOCARt4March1968

14 MARCH 1968 vor r28 No 376r

Edltor D.puty Edhor Arrbct Edltor F.rt r.! Edlbr gport Edltot

Edhorial

MAURICE A. 8MITH, OFC PETEf, GARI{IER IEOI{ARD AYTON STUART BI.AOON II{NE8 IBELAIIO GEOFFREY HOWARD,

ESctEng), ACGI, GlMechE

JOHN OAVEY GRAHAM ROBSON, M,Aloxon) MARTIN LEWIS MICHAEL SCARLETT WARBEN ALLPORT

Mldlrnd Edlror

An Edltor Manchcator Otftcr

EDWARO EVES

HOWARD VYSE

HAROLD HOLT, AMIMI, AMAEI

Spociol Contriburors

Manrging Dir.ctor

RONALD BARKER ROGER HUNTINGTON, ASAE I DeVoN EOIN YOUNG (Spon)

MAIN FEATURES RELEASES FOR GENEVA:

VAUX}IALL VIVA 2OOOGT RENAULT lOTS OTHER RELEASES TEST: VAUXHALL VENTORA AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL TEST: BEDFORD ROMA TEST:VW t600AUTOMATIC AUTOCAB MAPS COUPON SU BSEOUENT TO THE INCIDENT TEST: V. PLAS PRINCESS R

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REGUI.AB ITEIVIS NEW PRODUGTS DISCONNECTED JOTTINGS THE SPORT STRAIGHT FROM THE GRID NEWS AND VIEWS TRADE AND TNOUSTRY CORRESPONDENCE NEW CAR PRICES

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IUEXT WEEK'S ISSUE FEATURES-P 60

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TIME TO BE SAFE

"lN THE near future" the Minister of Transport is to make seat-belts compulsory on all cars built since 1 January 1965. Owners of the 2j million cars still in use that were produced in the 27-month period bewveen 1 January 1965 and 31 March 1967 will be affected. Mrs. Castle had considered including cars produced before 1965, but decided against it because few have built-in anchorages.

Though in June 1965 Tom Frazer was already considering making such points compulsory on all new cars, there had never been any specific legislation on this matter, and it was not until seat belts themselves became compulsory on cars produced after 1 April '1 967 that anchorages automatically became a legal requirement. ln 1965 the British Standards specification AU48 was laid down for anchorage points, and after that most cars produced by the big-volume manufacturers were fitted with them; but not all cars. A period thus exists when anchorage points were either not fitted or did not comply with the specification.

Thanks to the Minister's advance warning, there is time to make sure your car has sound anchorage points, and that they comply with the specification. Most manufacturers' agents sell seat belts (to British Standards specification BS3254) complete with the necessary plates, bolts and reinforcements that are standard to your make and model. lt is very important when fitting these to make certain the area round the attachment point has not been weakened by corrosion----and to get it made good if it has.

There remains, however, the very considerable gap between fitting belts and wearing them. At present most of us fall into this gap. particularly on local journeys. despite statistics that show that the majority of accidents occur within 25 miles of home. But Mrs. Castle has decided against legislation to compel their use because of the practical difficulties in enforcing such a law.

The Minister's decision may come as a surprise. Clearly, difficulties exist; but since there is such overwhelming evidence of the value of seat-belts we'd better overcome these difficulties. Much of the built-in safety that manufacturers can devise in modern cars loses its value unless it is backed-up by the use of belts. ln last week's special Safety lssue of Autocar we interviewed in Safety at Any Price the men responsible for safety in design among our great manufacturers. Without exception, they stressed the importance of this.

With all the evidence that exists. why is it that we don't make this small additional effort to ensure safety when it means so much to ourselves and our families? When we see a serious accident we are frightened into going slow -temporarily, at least. Would it be so very wrong to "frighten" us motorists into wearing seat-belts? We would support any reasonable campaign the Minister might start to encourage their use at all times. lt seems that one day motorists who don't wear their belts may face pleas of contributory negligence when trying to claim damages in court. Though nobody would be willing to commit himself on the legal aspects of this at present, the possibility is there.