Promoting excellence in mobility engineering

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The Consumer Watchdog
ICRASH2002/PAPER96

Authors

Joan Claybrook - President Public Citizen

Abstract

Australia is quite different from the U.S. in your approach to auto and highway safety mandates in that you do not rely as much on the same kind of centralized regulatory controls that we do in the U.S.

But you have some stunning achievements we have failed to secure. Most notably, your 95% belt use outshines the U.S. wherever with mandatory state belt use laws our usage is 65%-70% at best and only 50% in fatal crashes.

Of course, we don’t have primary enforcement in most states - allowing for arrest for failure just for not wearing the belt. Regrettably, our auto companies, while complaining about lack of belt use, won’t support a federal law forcing states to adopt primary enforcement, and most have buzzer notifications limited to 8 seconds.

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