Not a good explanation

This case First published in broom.

For nearly 50 years, wearing a seat belt has been mandatory while driving. Now, the vast majority of people do it. This is important.

According to accident analysis by the Swedish Road Administration, 35% of people who died in traffic accidents were not wearing seatbelts. As a result, more than a third of people who died in car accidents were uninsured.

The police and the National Roads Authority focus on checking seatbelt use during their controls, and here they saw some people not using seatbelts.

This applies to one group in particular.

Sitting on the belt

– There is a disproportionate number of professional drivers here. This applies especially to the goods vehicle industry, including some truck drivers. “Unfortunately, we are seeing this trend increasing,” said Bjørn Uno Rogneby of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

Checking seatbelt use is an important part of the Swedish Road Administration’s inspections. Photo: Norwegian Road Administration.

This week, when they carried out checks at the Lillestrom traffic station, they issued four tickets for reasons including not using seatbelts.

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– The regulars are those who sit on the belt. This way they can turn off the warning sound, Rogneby said.

Spending too much time

– Do they have any explanation as to why they do this?

– Yes, most people say it’s because they often get in and out of the car. Then they think it takes too much time to wear a seat belt. This is not naturally an explanation we can consider, says Rogneby.

If you are caught not wearing your seatbelt correctly, there is no excuse. This will incur a fee of NOK 1,500.

Buses are a challenge

Inspectors at the National Road Administration often come across this solution: the driver is sitting on the seatbelt. This photo is from a previous inspection. Photo: Norwegian Road Administration.

– Some people think we are too picky when charging. Others try to slip away by wearing seatbelts after seeing the controls. But now it is not that simple, said Rogneby, who stressed that the vast majority of people did what they were supposed to do and used seatbelts.

– Yes, in general, the results are good. There are some challenges with buses nowadays, apart from those who sit on their seatbelts. Many passengers there unbuckle their seatbelts. We probably have to work hard there to change the attitude of many people towards wearing seatbelts when riding in buses, concludes Bjørn Uno Rogneby.