Queensland Road Safety Week – August 17 - 21, 2015
Wearing a seatbelt significantly improves your chances of surviving a crash.
The widespread use of seatbelts following legislation in the 1970s is regarded as having had a significant impact on the road toll, helping reduce this from over 3,382 deaths in 1968 to around 2,887 deaths per year 20 years later.
While wearing a seatbelt or restraint does not prevent a crash, it certainly can affect the outcome for individuals. Wearing a properly adjusted restraint reduces the risk of fatal or serious injury by 50%.
In 2013, there were 271 fatalities and 6,921 hospitalised casualties on Queensland roads, of which 35 fatalities and 155 hospitalised casualties were known to have been unrestrained.
Smart restraint
- Wear your seatbelt every time you are in your vehicle – even if you are only travelling a few kilometres. Most road crashes happen close to home because this is where you drive most frequently.
- Make sure everyone in your car is safely restrained before moving your vehicle.
- Make sure your seatbelts and child restraints are correctly fitted.
Visit jointhedrive.qld.gov.au/road-safety-week for more information and to Speak up for Road Safety.
Queensland Road Safety Week is a joint initiative of the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
RACQ, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), are proud supporters of the event.
