Belt up in July orders Minister

The Herald

4 June 1983

FROM the beginning of next month all newly registered cars must be fitted with seat belts for the front seats and anyone sitting in the front seat of a car with belts must wear them.

In terms of regulations gazetted yesterday, anyone breaking, the law can be fined up to $100.

There is no regulation forcing people whose cars are registered before the beginning of next month to fit safety belts, but if they have them they must wear them.

No dealer can sell and no one can drive on any road any light motor vehicle registered for the first time in Zimbabwe on or after July 1 unless each front seat in fitted with safety belts.

A light motor vehicle is a car or other vehicle with a net mass of less than 2 300 kg.

The seat belts must be securely attached to anchor points and must meet the requirements of the Standards Association of Central Africa.

Also from the beginning of next month anyone in the front seat of any car fitted with safety belts must wear them or be fined up to $100 and the belt must be properly adjusted and securely fastened.

The regulations apply to both drivers and passengers.

Drivers must also ensure that any passenger under 14 years complies with the regulations.

The Minister of Roads and Road Traffic, Cde Daniel Ngwenya, who made the regulations, can exempt on medical or other grounds anyone who applies in writing.

Drivers are also bound to keep belts and anchor points in good repair.

Drivers do not have to wear belts while reversing and neither do examiners have to wear them when conducting a road test.

A driver or passenger using a vehicle at work and having to alight at frequent intervals need not wear a belt if the vehicle is driven at less than 20 km/h. Ambulances and fire- engines are exempt from the regulations.

 

Lessons for today:

 The implementation of seat belt regulations underscores the importance of safety measures in reducing injuries and fatalities in road accidents.

Wearing seat belts is a simple yet effective way to protect oneself. Compliance with safety regulations and laws not only ensures personal safety but also helps avoid legal penalties.

• Drivers have a responsibility to ensure that both they and their passengers, especially children, adhere to safety regulations. This highlights the role of drivers in promoting road safety.
• The introduction of these regulations likely involved efforts to educate the public about the importance of seat belts.
• These lessons remind us of the ongoing importance of road safety measures, the role of regulations in protecting lives, and the collective responsibility of drivers and passengers to adhere to safety practices.