When did front seatbelts become a mandatory fit?
Discussion
Was thinking the other night that the wearing of seatbelts came in in 1983, but when was it mandatory to fit front seatbelts?
I know my 1970 1600E had seatbelts in the front (static, which I swapped from a scrapper for inertia reel) but were they mandatory fit or on the options list? I know the intertia reel were an optional extra, so perhaps the fitment of static fulfilled the factory fit requirement?
I know my 1970 1600E had seatbelts in the front (static, which I swapped from a scrapper for inertia reel) but were they mandatory fit or on the options list? I know the intertia reel were an optional extra, so perhaps the fitment of static fulfilled the factory fit requirement?
I seem to recall reading that all new cars ( sold to Britain ) from 1966, had to have seat belt mounting points factory fitted, but the vehicle didn’t have to the have seat belts themselves fitted.
In circa 1960, my Late Dad bought a new Ford Zephre.
Him and my mum were on the A127 on day, when they came upon a very bad accident that had just happened. A young lady had been thrown out through a windscreen and had bad facial injuries.
My Dad was tending to her and she kept repeating to him “ How bad is my face ??? “ she said that she was a model and obviously her looks were paramount.
Shortly after, my Dad got a pair of aircraft pilots harnesses, fitted to the Zephre.
In circa 1960, my Late Dad bought a new Ford Zephre.
Him and my mum were on the A127 on day, when they came upon a very bad accident that had just happened. A young lady had been thrown out through a windscreen and had bad facial injuries.
My Dad was tending to her and she kept repeating to him “ How bad is my face ??? “ she said that she was a model and obviously her looks were paramount.
Shortly after, my Dad got a pair of aircraft pilots harnesses, fitted to the Zephre.
Years ago i was contacted by an ex racer who was interested in my road legal lotus 22 ,
he asked is your car fitted with seatbelts , i said yes, a full race harness .....he said do you secure it , i said yes , his comment was i used to race these cars in the 60s , they weren't fitted with seatbelts for a reason , in a crash , the front has a tendency to trap your legs ......your better off being thown out ...because your sat on the petrol tank ...
he asked is your car fitted with seatbelts , i said yes, a full race harness .....he said do you secure it , i said yes , his comment was i used to race these cars in the 60s , they weren't fitted with seatbelts for a reason , in a crash , the front has a tendency to trap your legs ......your better off being thown out ...because your sat on the petrol tank ...
That's interesting as I thought front belt mountings became compulsory earlier than that.
I found this:- https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2019/12/a-guide-...
Which may explain why my first car, a clapped-out 1967 Cortina, had static belts fitted when I bought it.
I found this:- https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2019/12/a-guide-...
Which may explain why my first car, a clapped-out 1967 Cortina, had static belts fitted when I bought it.
That article is frankly b
ks, see my original post further up
Any vehicle manufactured after 30th June 1965 or first used after 1st January 1966 must be fitted with front seat belts
This means a car built in 1964 but not sold for two years which was not unusual back then had to be retro fitted with seat belts.
ks, see my original post further upAny vehicle manufactured after 30th June 1965 or first used after 1st January 1966 must be fitted with front seat belts
This means a car built in 1964 but not sold for two years which was not unusual back then had to be retro fitted with seat belts.
Riley Blue said:
My '63 Riley had anchorage points as standard. My recollection is that belts were required to be fitted from 1965 but wearing them was not mandatory until 1983.
That ties in with what I remember! My dad's 1964 Hillman Minx had the anchorages, but not the belts. I only started wearing them when I had to in 1983!
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