Seatbelt While Driving: Viennese Men Are the Biggest Seatbelt Slackers

The risk of a traffic accident having fatal consequences can be significantly reduced by wearing a seat belt. "If all car occupants were consistently buckled up, up to 40 lives could be saved each year," said Nosé. Even at a speed of 30 km/h, an accident can have serious to fatal consequences. Therefore, the seat belt should always be fastened - even on short trips in urban areas.

ÖAMTC Survey: 93.5 Percent Fasten Their Seat Belts

The current survey shows a pleasing increase in the fastening rate - particularly high values were recorded in Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg with over 97 percent. The situation is less positive in Vienna, where only 86.6 percent use the seat belt. While the morale improved in Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg, the rate decreased in Carinthia and Salzburg. In Vienna and Lower Austria, it remained almost the same. "While the fastening rate for women is 96 percent, men performed significantly worse at 91.8 percent," said the ÖAMTC technician.

In Austria, there has been a legal seat belt requirement since 1976, and non-compliance has been penalized since 1984. A fine of at least 50 euros is threatened. The mobility club calls for increased awareness, for example through "experiential" actions like the seat belt sled. Additionally, the topic of seat belts should be more intensively integrated into driver training.

(APA/Red.)

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